thump

[ thuhmp ]

noun

1. a blow with something thick and heavy, producing a dull sound; a heavy knock.
2. the sound made by or as if by such a blow.

verb (used with object)

1. to strike or beat with something thick and heavy, so as to produce a dull sound; pound.
2. (of an object) to strike against (something) heavily and noisily.
3. Informal. to thrash severely.

verb (used without object)

1. to strike, beat, or fall heavily, with a dull sound.
2. to walk with heavy steps; pound.
3. to palpitate or beat violently, as the heart.

thump

/ θʌmp /

noun

1. the sound of a heavy solid body hitting or pounding a comparatively soft surface
2. a heavy blow with the hand

   he gave me a thump on the back

verb

1. tr to strike or beat heavily; pound
2. intr to throb, beat, or pound violently

   his heart thumped with excitement

Derived Forms

• ˈthumper, noun

Other Words From

• thumper noun
• un·thumped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thump¹

First recorded in 1530–40; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of thump¹

C16: related to Icelandic, Swedish dialect dumpa to thump; see thud , bump

Example Sentences

The vibrometer measures the vibration of the surface and translates it into airborne sound that humans can hear, revealing an acoustic barrage of thumps, scrapes and buzzes.

From Science News

Listening to the deadmau5 track “4Ware,” I could feel the thump of the kick drum more than I’d expect from 5-inch drivers.

From Popular-Science

However, on music made for the bass to be felt as well as heard, the high Bass Boost can really help lay that extra thump on your chest.

From Popular-Science

Biles was solid throughout the routine, punctuating each skill with the confident thump of a solid landing on the beam.

From Time

It delivers plenty of thump while removing more fear that it could get ruined rolling around in the sand or falling in the water.

From Popular-Science

He picked up a large stick and lobbed it through the trees; it crashed through branches, and we heard it land with a thump.

From The Daily Beast

The first day I arrived, I had heard the sound in my hotel in Shahre Nau, a deep thump, and shivered.

From The Daily Beast

Conservatives are far more eager to thump their chests about these things.

From The Daily Beast

In the end, Silverman hurled her microphone to the floor with an ear-splitting thump, and made a quick getaway.

From The Daily Beast

From somewhere in the thicket below a muffled thump, thump, thump came up to them, as though some one was wielding an ax.

From Project Gutenberg

Simultaneously, Bud swung his feet to the cold floor with a thump designed solely to inform Cash that Bud was getting up.

From Project Gutenberg

His head was still sore from that great thump against the apple tree.

From Project Gutenberg

Then the same strange thump, thump, thump, was heard going down the trail again.

From Project Gutenberg

Never again did the woman hear that strange thump, thump, thump; and never again did the bear call to see if she were at home.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• thud