thump

American  

[thuhmp] / θʌmp /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

1. (tr) to strike or beat heavily; pound

2. (intr) to throb, beat, or pound violently

   his heart thumped with excitement

Other Word Forms

• thumper noun
• unthumped adjective

Etymology

Origin of thump

First recorded in 1530–40; imitative

Example Sentences

So she threw four ripe coconuts thump! into the sand and climbed down after them.

From Literature

New Zealand sealed their qualification to the next phase of the T20 World Cup with an eight-wicket thumping of Canada in Chennai on Tuesday.

From Barron's

That swagger is providing plenty of entertainment for French supporters, who were rewarded for their long weekend in Cardiff with a thumping win.

From BBC

She won a thumping victory in a national election Sunday, a victory that analysts say shows the limitations of Beijing’s coercive measures in affecting domestic politics.

From The Wall Street Journal

There was a thumping sound that he couldn’t place.

From Literature

Related Words

• thud