kink

[ kingk ]

noun

1. a twist or curl, as in a thread, rope, wire, or hair, caused by its doubling or bending upon itself:

   The kink in the hose was restricting the water flow.

2. a muscular stiffness or soreness, as in the neck or back:

   The kink in my neck was making it difficult to turn my head at all.

3. a flaw or imperfection likely to hinder the successful operation of something, such as a machine or plan:

   There are still a few kinks to be worked out of the design before we start production.

4. Slang.
   1. unconventional sexual preferences or behavior collectively.
   2. a particular sexual preference or behavior that is unconventional.
   3. a person characterized by such preferences or behavior; kinkster.
5. a mental twist; notion; whim.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to form or cause to form a twist or curl, as in a rope:

   The high tensile steel wire ensures the product will not kink in the sharpest bend.

kink

/ kɪŋk /

noun

1. a sharp twist or bend in a wire, rope, hair, etc, esp one caused when it is pulled tight
2. a crick in the neck or similar muscular spasm
3. a flaw or minor difficulty in some undertaking or project
4. a flaw or idiosyncrasy of personality; quirk
5. informal.
   a sexual deviation
6. a clever or unusual idea

verb

1. to form or cause to form a kink

Other Words From

• un·kink verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of kink¹

First recorded in 1670–80; from Dutch: “a twist in a rope”; perhaps akin to kick ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of kink¹

C17: from Dutch: a curl in a rope; compare Middle Low German kinke kink, Old Norse kinka to nod

Example Sentences

And now, his labrum surgery recovery has thrown another kink into those plans.

From Los Angeles Times

Highlights included Coffee - a tentative ballad about meeting up with an ex - and the lemon-bitter My Kink Is Karma, which got an invigoratingly grungy rock makeover.

From BBC

And it goes even further when you go into the world of kink.

From Los Angeles Times

And while that means free movement of people is not returning, there was an interesting kink today on the possibility of a youth mobility scheme, under which under-30s would have more rights to travel, live and work between the UK and Europe.

From BBC

The kink community has consent and safe words and care.

From Salon

Related Words

• flaw
• hitch
• imperfection