plunk

[ pluhngk ]

verb (used with object)

1. to pluck (a stringed instrument or its strings); twang:

   to plunk a guitar.

2. to throw, push, put, drop, etc., heavily or suddenly; plump (often followed by down ):

   Plunk down your money. She plunked herself down on the seat.

3. to push, shove, toss, etc. (sometimes followed by in, over, etc.):

   to plunk the ball over the net; to plunk a pencil into a drawer.

verb (used without object)

1. to give forth a twanging sound.
2. to drop heavily or suddenly; plump (often followed by down ):

   to plunk down somewhere and take a nap.

noun

1. act or sound of plunking.
2. Informal. a direct, forcible blow.
3. Slang. a dollar.

adverb

1. Informal. with a plunking sound.
2. Informal. squarely; exactly:

   The tennis ball landed plunk in the middle of the net.

plunk

/ plʌŋk /

verb

1. to pluck (the strings) of (a banjo, harp, etc) or (of such an instrument) to give forth a sound when plucked
2. often foll by down to drop or be dropped, esp heavily or suddenly

noun

1. the act or sound of plunking
2. informal.
   a hard blow

interjection

1. an exclamation imitative of the sound of something plunking

adverb

1. informal.
   exactly; squarely

   plunk into his lap

Word History and Origins

Origin of plunk¹

First recorded in 1760–70; expressive word akin to pluck

Word History and Origins

Origin of plunk¹

C20: imitative

Example Sentences

The instrument is mostly used in nonmelodic ways, either playing that jazzy walking bass motif, insistently hitting the same high note for a percussive effect or plunking discordant chords to convey darkness from the past.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, Roberts watched Hudson plunk slumping Yankees star Aaron Judge, give up a long single off the wall to Jazz Chisholm Jr., then walk Giancarlo Stanton to load the bases.

From Los Angeles Times

But even through those periods, there’s so much music in those shows that I was always able to have a guitar around, sit at a keyboard and plunk out some songs for the show.

From Los Angeles Times

It might also involve plunking them into other streams that could sustain them.

From Los Angeles Times

The Kings were plunked down in a place that hated the cold, yet they made ice cool and won two Stanley Cup championships.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• plop