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plunk

[pluhngk]
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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 by down): 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 by down): to plunk down somewhere and take a nap.
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noun
  1. act or sound of plunking.
  2. Informal. a direct, forcible blow.
  3. Slang. a dollar.
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adverb
  1. Informal. with a plunking sound.
  2. Informal. squarely; exactly: The tennis ball landed plunk in the middle of the net.
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Origin of plunk

First recorded in 1760–70; expressive word akin to pluck
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for plunk down

plunk

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
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interjection
  1. an exclamation imitative of the sound of something plunking
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adverb
  1. informal exactly; squarelyplunk into his lap
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Word Origin

C20: imitative
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for plunk down

plunk

v.

1805, "to pluck a stringed instrument;" 1808 in sense of "drop down abruptly;" 1888 as "to hit, wound, shoot." Probably of imitative origin in all cases. Related: Plunked; plunking.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with plunk down

plunk down

Throw or place or drop heavily, as in He plunked down the money and walked out, or It was hot work, so after an hour we plunked ourselves down in the shade. [Late 1800s]

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.