clinker
/ˈklɪŋkər/
noun
- A hard, stony material that forms when coal or other fuel is burned, often found in furnaces or fireplaces.
- The old steam engine left a pile of clinker beside the tracks.
- The blacksmith removed the clinker from the forge before adding more coal.
- After the campfire burned out, we found a lump of clinker in the ashes.
- A type of hard brick made by burning clay at a very high temperature, often used in paving or building.
- The old warehouse walls were built from rough clinker blocks.
- They used clinker for the factory floor because it was very durable.
- The garden path was paved with dark red clinker bricks.
- A mistake or failure; something that goes wrong. (informal)
- I thought I had the answer right, but it turned out to be a clinker.
- His first attempt at baking bread was a clinker—it came out like a rock.
- The movie was a real clinker; the critics hated it.