bong

¹ American  

[bong, bawng] / bɒŋ, bɔŋ /

noun

1. a dull, resonant sound, as of a large bell.

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verb (used without object)

1. to produce this sound.

   The church bell bonged promptly at noon.

bong ² American  

[bong, bawng] / bɒŋ, bɔŋ /

noun

1. a water pipe for smoking marijuana or other drugs. Similar in function to a hookah, a bong has a heated bowl, water reservoir, and a tube with a mouthpiece.

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bong ¹ British  

/ bɒŋ /

noun

1. a deep reverberating sound, as of a large bell

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verb

1. to make a deep reverberating sound

bong ² British  

/ bɒŋ /

noun

1. a type of water pipe for smoking marijuana, crack, etc

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Etymology

Origin of bong¹

First recorded in 1855–60; imitative

Origin of bong²

First recorded in 1970–75; from Thai bong, baung “bamboo tube”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bong

As Panyathong later told me, with “the jaew bong, I didn’t hold back — I was just like, ‘That’s just what it is.’

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 26, 2023

Friday, the Keeper of the Great Clock and his team of horologists tested the bells, and crowds gathered nearby at Whitehall to honor Armistice Day heard the old boy bong again.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 11, 2022

Now, that tone has been replaced with a softer bong, which I find way less attention-grabbing.

From The Verge ● Aug. 24, 2022

The bell’s bong, he said, was instantly recognizable to Britons.

From New York Times ● Jul. 3, 2022

It was only a moment before it would bong bong bong its way to nine o’clock.

From "A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness

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