TINNY (tinnier, tinniest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: tinnier    , tinniest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tinny mean? 

• TINNY (adjective)
  The adjective TINNY has 3 senses:

1. of or containing tin

2. of very poor quality; flimsy

3. thin and metallic in sound; lacking resonance

  Familiarity information: TINNY used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TINNY (adjective)

Comparative: tinnier   
Superlative: tinniest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or containing tin

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

tin (a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide)

Derivation:

tin (a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of very poor quality; flimsy

Synonyms:

bum; cheap; cheesy; chintzy; crummy; punk; sleazy; tinny

Similar:

inferior (of low or inferior quality)

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Thin and metallic in sound; lacking resonance

Context example:

an unpleasant tinny voice

Similar:

metal; metallic (containing or made of or resembling or characteristic of a metal)

 Context examples 

The moon had risen higher, and floating in the Sound was a triangle of silver scales, trembling a little to the stiff, tinny drip of the banjoes on the lawn.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)