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

When we watch movies, we’re being plunked into a story already in progress.

From Salon

Chuckling to myself, I loaded up again, took dead aim, and plunked him another good one.

From Literature

Pretty soon, I felt a plunk, plunk, plunk on my pajama top, and there was a wet spot in the middle of my chest.

From Literature

And the time an up-and-coming rapper plunked down in the open middle seat on his way to the Grammys.

From The Wall Street Journal

I plunked down on the porch steps and strained my ears, trying to hear their voices through the open windows.

From Literature

Related Words

• plop