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to clink

to clink

16 5.1
To make a short, sharp sound by hitting glass or metal together
  • verb
  • /klɪŋk/
translation icon : tintinear
  • He takes his glass and he clinks my glass and cheers me.
  • clink glasses
  • ice clinking
  • coins clink

He takes his glass and he clinks my glass and cheers me.

Examples

  • Yeatts picked up two pieces and clinked them together, producing a melodious chime.

    Academic text (2007)
  • When we clinked our glasses together, all you could hear was ice against glass.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Now she goes through the cupboard; cups and bowls clink together.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • I opened tiny cans of orange juice for each of us and clinked mine against his in a toast.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • BEAN takes it, along with a small bowl of nuts, and clinks glasses with his unsmiling partner.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • To the final frontier," he toasted, and we all, even Penny, clinked glasses.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Now, when she opened the car door, a dozen metal bracelets clinked on her wrists.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Her Tokay parties were famous, bubbling with jazz and clinking with Bohemian crystal.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • "Not on our part," said Natalie, her bracelets clinking together as she brushed Edgar's hair from his face.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • During the celebration, we all raised our glasses to clink them together in a toast.

Synonyms

to jingle
vsto clink
18 2.8

To make a light ringing sound by moving small metal objects

is a single short sharp strike not a repeated chiming sound
to tinkle
vsto clink
15 3.9

To make a light clear ringing sound like a small bell

is a crisper single metallic strike rather than a soft bell chime
to chink
vsto clink
1 7.7

To make a short high ringing sound like small metal pieces hitting

is a short sharp metallic strike rather than a thin high tone
to tink
vsto clink
1 9.5

To make a short high ringing sound like a small bell

is sharper and less bell-like, focusing on metallic or glass impact
clinking
vsto clink
3.4

A light, sharp ringing sound when keys or glasses touch

is the base verb form describing a short metallic strike

How Loud

to clang
11 3.5
to clank
8 3.5
to clink
16 5.1
to tinkle
15 3.9
tap
66 1.0

Surface Forms

clink infinitive
clinked past
clinked past participle
clinking present participle
clinks third person singular

Etymology

The verb clink comes from the same imitative sound; to clink is to make that quick, bright metal or glass noise, as when people touch glasses during a toast or coins hit a jar. So when you clink things together you are making that clear ringing sound.