1. hard masses of fused coal residue or ash left after burning
2. mistakes or failures, especially in performance or speech
Usage: informal
3. hard-burned bricks that are overheated and distorted
Usage: construction

Examples

• The furnace produced several clinkers that had to be removed.
• After cleaning out the fireplace, we found clinkers mixed with the ashes.
• The singer hit a few clinkers during the high notes.
• His speech was full of clinkers that made the audience cringe.
• The construction crew had to discard the clinkers from the kiln.
• Those overheated bricks turned into useless clinkers.