clack

[ klak ]

verb (used without object)

1. to make a quick, sharp sound, or a succession of such sounds, as by striking or cracking:

   The loom clacked busily under her expert hands.

2. to talk rapidly and continually or with sharpness and abruptness; chatter.
3. to cluck or cackle.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter by clacking.
2. to cause to clack:

   He clacked the cup against the saucer.

noun

1. a clacking sound.
2. something that clacks, as a rattle.
3. rapid, continual talk; chatter.

clack

/ klæk /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a sound like that of two pieces of wood hitting each other
2. intr to jabber
3. a less common word for cluck

noun

1. a short sharp sound
2. a person or thing that produces this sound
3. chatter
4. Also calledclack valve a simple nonreturn valve using either a hinged flap or a ball

Word History and Origins

Origin of clack¹

1200–50; Middle English clacken; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of clack¹

C13: probably from Old Norse klaka to twitter, of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Hazel’s giant tail keeps harassing him and she clacks her teeth, shakes as if frozen in front of an oncoming car, and makes more “nuts” puns than you might expect.

From Los Angeles Times

She's easily flattened into a heavily painted cartoon with eyelash extensions and clacking acrylic nails.

From Salon

To keep the audience on its toes, some scene changes are punctuated by blinding lights and obnoxiously loud flashbulb clacks.

From New York Times

Slowly, at first, pivoting on the balls of his feet, his felt shoes made a metallic clack on the stone floor—an unfamiliar sound to me.

From Literature

His teeth chattered and clacked, and nothing would make his frigid shuddering stop.

From Literature