noun / verb

clunk

KLUNK/klˈʌŋk/

A dull, heavy sound, or making or moving with such a sound.

The heavy wooden mallet hits the block with a dull clunk.

A heavy wooden mallet striking a thick wooden block, with a few short vibration strokes at the contact point to suggest a dull, solid clunk rather than a sharp metallic ring.

Etymology

Clunk was coined in imitation of a sound, originally that of a cork being pulled from a bottle. Its modern use describes a dull, heavy noise rather than that particular sound.

In context

ABC111:31

Clang, clunk, crash. The noise frightened the big dogs away.

Magic of Storytelling | Scamp the Hero

More examples

A loud clunk comes from under the hood.
The old elevator clunks to a stop.
My boots clunk on the wooden stairs.

Forms

clunk · clunks · clunked · clunking

Similar words

thud: Suggests a heavy, muffled impact rather than machinery noise.
thump: Often suggests a forceful bump or blow against something.