plunk

American  

[pluhngk] / plʌŋk /

verb (used with object)

1. to pluck (a stringed instrument or its strings); twang.

   to plunk a guitar.

2. to throw, push, put, drop, etc., heavily or suddenly; plump (often followed bydown ).

   Plunk down your money. She plunked herself down on the seat.

3. to push, shove, toss, etc. (sometimes followed by in, over, etc.).

   to plunk the ball over the net; to plunk a pencil into a drawer.

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verb (used without object)

1. to give forth a twanging sound.

2. to drop heavily or suddenly; plump (often followed bydown ).

   to plunk down somewhere and take a nap.

noun

1. act or sound of plunking.

2. Informal. a direct, forcible blow.

3. Slang. a dollar.

adverb

1. Informal. with a plunking sound.

2. Informal. squarely; exactly.

   The tennis ball landed plunk in the middle of the net.

plunk British  

/ plʌŋk /

verb

1. to pluck (the strings) of (a banjo, harp, etc) or (of such an instrument) to give forth a sound when plucked

2. (often foll by down) to drop or be dropped, esp heavily or suddenly

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noun

1. the act or sound of plunking

2. informal a hard blow

interjection

1. an exclamation imitative of the sound of something plunking

adverb

1. informal exactly; squarely

   plunk into his lap

Etymology

Origin of plunk

First recorded in 1760–70; expressive word akin to pluck

Example Sentences

“If it doesn’t pan out, we have just plunked down a lot of money on the table that depreciates really quickly. And the clock is ticking.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The scene is a family dinner in which ordinary household noises — the scrapes, plunks and clatter — and speech are pitched at irregular volumes and lack directional focus.

From Los Angeles Times

This isn’t the first time that Nvidia is plunking down cash to invest in a partner.

From MarketWatch

Somewhere in the distance and deep belowground, water trickled and plunked onto ancient rock.

From Literature

It was narrow, damp, and silent, except for the occasional plunk . . . plunk . . . plunk of water dripping.

From Literature

Related Words

• plop