noun

chink

chihngk

noun

A narrow crack or opening, often letting through a beam of light.

"A chink in the curtains let a thin ray of sunlight in."

"They found a chink in the old stone wall."

A weakness or flaw in an otherwise strong system or argument.

"The lawyer found a chink in the prosecution's case."

How to Use Chink

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small crack or gap, or figuratively a weak spot in something.

When to use it

As a slur for people of Chinese or East Asian descent, this word is highly offensive and should never be used that way.

Common pairings

a chink of light a chink in the armor

Word Forms

more Chink comparative, chinked past tense, chinked past tense, chinks plural, chinks plural, Chinks plural, chinks singular, chinks singular, most Chink superlative

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Etymology

From Old English ċine ("crack"), with the diminutive suffix -k added later.

Synonyms

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Chinaman ching chong

Related Words

slope chinaman

Rhymes for chink

ink pink link mink oink sink wink kink dink fink rink tink

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