plink
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to shoot, as with a rifle, at targets selected at whim.
to plink at coins tossed in the air.
-
to make a series of short, light, ringing sounds.
verb (used with object)
-
to shoot at for practice or amusement, as with a rifle.
to plink bottles set along a fence railing.
-
to cause to make a series of short, light, ringing sounds.
noun
noun
verb
-
(intr) to make such a noise
-
to hit (a target, such as a tin can) by shooting or to shoot at such a target
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of plink
First recorded in 1965–70; imitative
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Here’s a kalimba, an African thumb piano with metal tines that plink like a music box.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 15, 2021
And so just on the day I said, “This is kind of weird, maybe plink the piano.”
From The Verge ● Dec. 4, 2019
Michaela hit a piano key, a high note, plink, plink, plink, and my hands began to go numb, disappear, like they always did when I was nervous.
From Slate ● Feb. 1, 2017
The surface is mostly subterfuge, especially at the beginning: the perky electroacoustic plink of the arrangement, the galloping beat and vocal harmonies of the chorus, the video clip that’s devoted to boys-will-be-boys high jinks.
From New York Times ● May 27, 2016
As we ate, we threw the bones out the window, plink, into the water.
From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.