chug

¹

[ chuhg ]

noun

1. a short, dull, explosive sound:

   the steady chug of an engine.

verb (used without object)

, chugged, chug·ging.

1. to make this sound:

   The motor chugged.

2. to move while making this sound:

   The train chugged along.

chug

²

[ chuhg ]

verb (used with or without object)

, chugged, chug·ging.

1. Also . to swallow (a drink) in large gulps or without interruption:

   He noisily chugged the entire bottle of water, then slammed it onto the table.

   She was just sitting on the bench, chugging away on a bottle of soda.

noun

1. a large gulp or swallow:

   He finished his beer in two chugs.

chug

/ tʃʌɡ /

noun

1. a short dull sound, esp one that is rapidly repeated, such as that made by an engine

verb

1. intr (of an engine, etc) to operate while making such sounds

Other Words From

• chugger noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chug¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; imitative

Origin of chug²

First recorded in 1955–60, as chug down; of imitative origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of chug¹

C19: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

The whistle of a train interrupts the tourist chatter, and a steam engine pulling a long line of freight carriages slowly chugs across the railway bridge from Russia to North Korea.

From BBC

And as the train chugged on through the jungle, there seemed to be some truth in each of their opposing visions.

From Los Angeles Times

In it, chugging on instinct and not playbook, Moss juked one defender and spun through another one before landing in the end zone on his head.

From Los Angeles Times

Earplugs can dampen the chugging train sounds at night.

From Los Angeles Times

In America, grief is often framed as a journey from Point A to Point B, a linear path efficiently chugging through stages like denial and anger, ultimately heading toward acceptance.

From Los Angeles Times