Clang
noun
A loud, resonant metallic sound or series of sounds.
The clang of metal against metal could be heard across the workshop.
Often appears as...
- clang of metal
- clang of bells
verb
To make a loud, resonant metallic sound.
The bells clanged loudly in the tower.
Often appears as...
- clang loudly
- clang together
noun
A distinctive resonant sound made by the vibrating of a bell, gong, or metal object.
The clang of the school bell signals the end of lunch.
Often appears as...
- clang of the bell
- distinctive clang
noun
In linguistics, a group of words sharing the same root or base.
In English, 'run', 'running', 'ran' and 'runner' are all part of the same clang.
Often appears as...
- same clang
- word clang
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
A loud, resonant metallic sound or series of sounds.
The clang of metal against metal could be heard across the workshop.
Often appears as...
- clang of metal
- clang of bells
verb
To make a loud, resonant metallic sound.
The bells clanged loudly in the tower.
Often appears as...
- clang loudly
- clang together
noun
A distinctive resonant sound made by the vibrating of a bell, gong, or metal object.
The clang of the school bell signals the end of lunch.
Often appears as...
- clang of the bell
- distinctive clang
noun
In linguistics, a group of words sharing the same root or base.
In English, 'run', 'running', 'ran' and 'runner' are all part of the same clang.
Often appears as...
- same clang
- word clang
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Loud Impact
Use 'clang' to describe a strong sound made when heavy metal objects hit each other.
The gate closed with a clang.
Pro Tip 2/3Industrial Setting
Often used for noises in factories, workshops, or construction where metal is common.
We wore earplugs to mute the constant clang of hammers on steel.
Pro Tip 3/3Metal Objects
'Clang' suggests a metallic quality of the object making the sound, not plastic or wood.
She dropped the pans, and they clanged on the floor.
Pro Tip 1/3Loud Impact
Use 'clang' to describe a strong sound made when heavy metal objects hit each other.
The gate closed with a clang.
Pro Tip 2/3Industrial Setting
Often used for noises in factories, workshops, or construction where metal is common.
We wore earplugs to mute the constant clang of hammers on steel.
Pro Tip 3/3Metal Objects
'Clang' suggests a metallic quality of the object making the sound, not plastic or wood.
She dropped the pans, and they clanged on the floor.
Pro Tip 1/3Loud Impact
Use 'clang' to describe a strong sound made when heavy metal objects hit each other.
The gate closed with a clang.
Pro Tip 2/3Industrial Setting
Often used for noises in factories, workshops, or construction where metal is common.
We wore earplugs to mute the constant clang of hammers on steel.
Pro Tip 3/3Metal Objects
'Clang' suggests a metallic quality of the object making the sound, not plastic or wood.
She dropped the pans, and they clanged on the floor.
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Video examples
Chasing Rivers, Part 2:...
and you feel the metronome clang of bells vibrating inside your chest and a wave of furnace-like heat consuming everything in its reach, you realize how removed you truly are from the ritual of death." That was the most run-on sentence I've ever written in my life, but I liked it.
Video examples
How the Monkey King...
His battle cries and the clang of weapons echoed throughout the underworld. Sensing a disturbance, the ten Death Lords swooped upon him. But they had never met such resistance from a mortal soul. What was this unusual creature? And was he a mortal, a god— or something else?
Video examples
Why Africa Needs...
there's still little separation between people and wildlife and livestock. Here, you can still hear the cow bells clanging as a little boy brings his goats to water on the mighty Ewaso Ng’iro river. And behind him, nibbling on the tops of trees, are giraffes.
Video examples
Chasing Rivers, Part 2:...
and you feel the metronome clang of bells vibrating inside your chest and a wave of furnace-like heat consuming everything in its reach, you realize how removed you truly are from the ritual of death." That was the most run-on sentence I've ever written in my life, but I liked it.
Video examples
How the Monkey King...
His battle cries and the clang of weapons echoed throughout the underworld. Sensing a disturbance, the ten Death Lords swooped upon him. But they had never met such resistance from a mortal soul. What was this unusual creature? And was he a mortal, a god— or something else?
Video examples
Why Africa Needs...
there's still little separation between people and wildlife and livestock. Here, you can still hear the cow bells clanging as a little boy brings his goats to water on the mighty Ewaso Ng’iro river. And behind him, nibbling on the tops of trees, are giraffes.
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Mira Nair
Indian Director
I often begin movies with music in my head; it's a very important dimension to me. Not just the music itself, but how to use music in film: when and how and subtlety. I don't like to be too sweet in my stories, and I like the abrasive clang, the contrasting of sounds and cultures.
Quote examples
Lynda Barry
American Cartoonist
When I work on a book, I usually start with a question. And I don't sit around and go 'I need to write a book. What's a good question?' It will be a question that's just clanging around in my head. So for 'What It Is,' it was this idea of 'What is an image?
Quote examples
Jack Whitehall
British Comedian
I did a gig at a comedy club in Bournemouth where they served a buffet while the acts were on. There was the clang of people carving turkey during the set. If you put comedy and turkey side by side, turkey always wins.
Quote examples
Louis C. K.
American Comedian
When I read things like the foundations of capitalism are shattering, I'm like, maybe we need that. Maybe we need some time where we're walking around with a donkey with pots clanging on the sides.
Quote examples
Kitty Kelley
American Journalist
I can't say I wasn't warned. Alarms started clanging the day I signed to write 'His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra' (Bantam Books, 1986).
Quote examples
Michael Novak
American Philosopher
Our political institutions work remarkably well. They are designed to clang against each other. The noise is democracy at work.
Quote examples
Josh Radnor
American Director
I actually have a thing about proper nouns. They clang on my ear in a weird way when I hear them dropped into movies.
Quote examples
Letitia Baldrige
American Writer
Eating American-style, you put the knife down and clang. Continental is silent and efficient.
Quote examples
Michael Azerrad
American Author
Nine Inch Nails' sound is dominated by clanging synths and sardonic, shrieking vocals.
Quote examples
Mira Nair
Indian Director
I often begin movies with music in my head; it's a very important dimension to me. Not just the music itself, but how to use music in film: when and how and subtlety. I don't like to be too sweet in my stories, and I like the abrasive clang, the contrasting of sounds and cultures.
Quote examples
Lynda Barry
American Cartoonist
When I work on a book, I usually start with a question. And I don't sit around and go 'I need to write a book. What's a good question?' It will be a question that's just clanging around in my head. So for 'What It Is,' it was this idea of 'What is an image?
Quote examples
Jack Whitehall
British Comedian
I did a gig at a comedy club in Bournemouth where they served a buffet while the acts were on. There was the clang of people carving turkey during the set. If you put comedy and turkey side by side, turkey always wins.
Quote examples
Louis C. K.
American Comedian
When I read things like the foundations of capitalism are shattering, I'm like, maybe we need that. Maybe we need some time where we're walking around with a donkey with pots clanging on the sides.
Quote examples
Kitty Kelley
American Journalist
I can't say I wasn't warned. Alarms started clanging the day I signed to write 'His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra' (Bantam Books, 1986).
Quote examples
Michael Novak
American Philosopher
Our political institutions work remarkably well. They are designed to clang against each other. The noise is democracy at work.
Quote examples
Josh Radnor
American Director
I actually have a thing about proper nouns. They clang on my ear in a weird way when I hear them dropped into movies.
Quote examples
Letitia Baldrige
American Writer
Eating American-style, you put the knife down and clang. Continental is silent and efficient.
Quote examples
Michael Azerrad
American Author
Nine Inch Nails' sound is dominated by clanging synths and sardonic, shrieking vocals.
Example 1 of 9
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