jangle

American  

[jang-guhl] / ˈdʒæŋ gəl /

verb (used without object)

jangled, jangling

1. to produce a harsh, discordant sound, as two comparatively small, thin, or hollow pieces of metal hitting together.

   The charms on her bracelet jangle as she moves.

2. to speak angrily; wrangle.

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verb (used with object)

jangled, jangling

1. to cause to make a harsh, discordant, usually metallic sound.

   He jangled the pots and pans.

2. to cause to become irritated or upset.

   The loud noise of the motors jangled his nerves.

noun

1. a harsh or discordant sound.

2. an argument, dispute, or quarrel.

jangle British  

/ ˈdʒæŋɡəl /

verb

1. to sound or cause to sound discordantly, harshly, or unpleasantly

   the telephone jangled

2. (tr) to produce a jarring effect on

   the accident jangled his nerves

3. an archaic word for wrangle

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noun

1. a harsh, unpleasant ringing noise

2. an argument or quarrel

Other Word Forms

• jangler noun
• jangly adjective

Etymology

Origin of jangle

1250–1300; Middle English janglen < Old French jangler < Germanic; compare Middle Dutch jangelen to haggle, whine

Example Sentences

She was about to grab him when the clock began to jangle.

From Literature

The prospect of Andrew being forced to give evidence would set the Palace nerves jangling.

From BBC

A jangle of keys, a twist of a doorknob, and we’re inside our flat.

From Literature

He describes the last of these with gentle clarity as “a lot like the jarring, jangling wrongness of the wrongly hit baseball.”

From The Wall Street Journal

I shook the bag at my elbow and heard the jangle of my coins.

From Literature