Meaning of tinker In English

• 0 to make small changes to something, especially in an attempt to repair or improve it:

  • He spends every weekend tinkering (around) with his car.

  • I wish the government would stop tinkering with the health service.

• 1 especially in the past, a person who travelled from place to place, repairing pans or other metal containers

• 2 a child who behaves badly:

  • [ as form of address ] You tinker, Nicky, you shouldn't have done that.

  • Don't be such a tinker.

• 3 the activity of making small changes to something:

  • I'll just have a tinker with the TV and see if I can get it to work.

• 4 to make small changes in something, because you hope to improve or fix it:

  • Chuck tinkers with the car’s engine all the time.