clang

1 of 2

verb

ˈklaŋ 

clanged; clanging; clangs

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make a loud metallic ringing sound

anvils clanged

b

: to go with a clang

2

: to utter the characteristic harsh cry of a bird

transitive verb

: to cause to clang

clang a bell

clang

2 of 2

noun

1

: a loud ringing metallic sound

the clang of a fire alarm

2

: a harsh cry of a bird (such as a crane or goose)

Synonyms

Noun

• clangor
• clank
• clash
• whang

Examples of clang in a Sentence

Verb

His fork clanged against the plate.

The prison door clanged shut.

The guard clanged the door shut.

Noun

the horseshoe hit the stake with a satisfying clang

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Later, Emma’s on a smoke/phone break when the tender starts clanging against the boat. —Emma Soren, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024

Danger bells ought to be ringing and clanging. Giving up your thinking to generative AI is bad news when done without suitable awareness and realization of the downsides involved. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024

Noun

Shutters clang, shut over the windows; the room’s swept for bugs; cell phones are confiscated for the duration; no media — electronic or otherwise — is allowed. —Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2024

At mealtimes, the metallic clang of shutting gates echoes through the cell block, as a prisoner distributes meal trays through a ground-level hatch at the bottom of each cell door. —Rebecca Wright, CNN, 19 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin clangere; akin to Greek klazein to scream, bark, Old English hliehhan to laugh

First Known Use

Verb

1576, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1557, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

clang

1 of 2 verb

ˈklaŋ 

: to make or cause to make a loud ringing sound

clang

2 of 2 noun

: a loud ringing sound like that made by pieces of metal striking together