clack

[ klak ]

/ klæk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR clack ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to make a quick, sharp sound, or a succession of such sounds, as by striking or cracking: The loom clacked busily under her expert hands.

to talk rapidly and continually or with sharpness and abruptness; chatter.

to cluck or cackle.

verb (used with object)

to utter by clacking.

to cause to clack: He clacked the cup against the saucer.

noun

a clacking sound.

something that clacks, as a rattle.

rapid, continual talk; chatter.

Nearby words

Origin of clack

1200–50; Middle English clacken; imitative

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for clack

I need to get a head shot so he won't have a chance to clack himself off [blow himself up].
Meet the Man Who Killed Bin Laden|David Frum|February 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A look at some of the craziest, funniest, and most bizarre moments with Click and Clack.
‘Car Talk’ Hosts to Retire: Best Moments With NPR’s Laughing Mechanics|Caitlin Dickson|June 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
“A Kinder, Gentler IRS” Click and Clack were all over the place in the April 11, 1998, episode of Car Talk.
‘Car Talk’ Hosts to Retire: Best Moments With NPR’s Laughing Mechanics|Caitlin Dickson|June 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
A mower began to clack in the distance, where some farmer was cutting his second crop of clover.
In Pastures Green|Peter McArthur

What a buzz and clack and chatter there was in the room to be sure!
The Christmas Books|William Makepeace Thackeray
Notwithstanding the weather, the clack of tongues was incessant.
Sybil|Benjamin Disraeli
Only yesterday he had not heard of our existence, and then—clack!
Eastern Nights - and Flights|Alan Bott
It had evidently seen much service, was battered, and the clack Japan worn off in most parts of it.
Snarleyyow|Captain Frederick Marryat

British Dictionary definitions for clack

clack

/ (klæk) /

verb

to make or cause to make a sound like that of two pieces of wood hitting each other

(intr) to jabber

a less common word for cluck

noun

a short sharp sound

a person or thing that produces this sound

chatter

Also called: clack valve a simple nonreturn valve using either a hinged flap or a ball

Word Origin for clack

C13: probably from Old Norse klaka to twitter, of imitative origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for clack

clack

mid-13c., not in Old English, from Old Norse klaka "to chatter," of echoic origin; cf. Dutch klakken "to clack, crack," Old High German kleken, French claquer "to clap, crack (see claque). Related: Clacked; clacking.

clack

mid-15c., from clack (v.).

clack

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

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Origin of clack

Examples from the Web for clack

clack

verb

noun

Word Origin for clack

clack

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