plunk

[pluhngk]

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verb (used with object)

to pluck (a stringed instrument or its strings); twang: to plunk a guitar.

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.

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.

verb (used without object)

to give forth a twanging sound.

to drop heavily or suddenly; plump (often followed by down): to plunk down somewhere and take a nap.

noun

act or sound of plunking.

Informal. a direct, forcible blow.

Slang. a dollar.

adverb

Informal. with a plunking sound.

Informal. squarely; exactly: The tennis ball landed plunk in the middle of the net.

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. 2019

Related Words for plunk down

refund, settle, handle, extend, grant, reimburse, offer, disburse, repay, compensate, meet, present, insert, set, invest, focus, bring, place, lay, install

British Dictionary definitions for plunk down

plunk

verb

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

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

noun

the act or sound of plunking

informal a hard blow

interjection

an exclamation imitative of the sound of something plunking

adverb

informal exactly; squarelyplunk into his lap

Word Origin for plunk

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

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.

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]