clunk

[ kluhngk ]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to hit hard, especially on the head.
2. clonk ( def 2 ).

noun

1. a hard hit, especially on the head.
2. Informal. a stupid person; clunkhead.
3. clonk ( def 1 ).
4. Informal. clunker ( def 2 )

clunk

/ klʌŋk /

noun

1. a blow or the sound of a blow
2. a dull metallic sound
3. a dull or stupid person
4. 1. the gurgling sound of a liquid
   2. the sound of a cork being removed from a bottle

verb

1. to make or cause to make such a sound

Word History and Origins

Origin of clunk¹

1790–1800; imitative; clink ¹, clank

Word History and Origins

Origin of clunk¹

C19: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

I feed it coins and watch the spring coil back,the clunk of a vacuum-packed, foil-wrappeddream dropping into the tray.

From MIT Technology Review

Embellishments were large and cumbersome—so much so that the dresses seemed to clink and clunk as the models walked the runway.

From The Daily Beast

As to the word clunk, it is in use throughout Cornwall in the sense of "to swallow," and is undoubtedly Celtic.

From Project Gutenberg

It had in it the jingle of saber chains, the creak of sweaty saddle-girths, the nimble clunk of hurrying hoofs.

From Project Gutenberg

But three minutes later he had dropped down to earth with a heavy clunk.

From Project Gutenberg

And immediately afterward the clungk, clunk—clungk, clunk of mighty hoofs coming down the passage toward us.

From Project Gutenberg

And suddenly the clungk, clunk—clungk, clunk recommenced and passed onward down the passage.

From Project Gutenberg