Sekirov Dictionary

plunk

/plʌŋk/

verb 13
noun 4
adverb 2
exclamation 1
forms 3

verb13

•
[with oneself] Often followed by down: to drop, set, or throw (something, or oneself) abruptly and/or heavily into or on to a surface or some other thing, making a dull sound; to plump.
- Enrique plunked his money down on the counter with a sigh and bellied up to the bar.
- Exhausted, she plunked herself on the sofa.
Often followed by down: to drop, land, or set abruptly and/or heavily into or on to a surface or some other thing with a dull sound; to plump down.
•
To pluck and quickly release (a string of a stringed instrument); also, to play (a stringed instrument) by plucking strings; to play (a piano, etc.) by striking keys; or, to play (a note or tune) on such an instrument.
- Her friends were boggled by how long it took her to plunk out simple texts, but Kate says she learned skills her peers have never had to master. — 2025
•
To pluck and quickly release a string of a musical instrument; also, to play a stringed instrument by plucking strings; to play a piano, etc., by striking keys; or, to play a note or tune on such an instrument.
- [D]eafening was what H. V. W. would call the din from the rock stars' dressing rooms where electric guitars whined, drums rattled, sitars plunked; and marijuana made the air a tender blue. — 1978
•
(figurative) Chiefly followed by down or out: to pay (money); to plank.
- Just let them tell him a thing is pretty and fashionable, and Matthew plunks his money down for it. — 1908
•
(US) To hit or injure (someone or something); also, to shoot (someone or something) with a firearm.
- Say, I jes' jumped d' bar, an' d' way I plunked [hit] dat bloke was outa sight. See? Dat's right! In d' jaw! — 1896
•
(US) To pitch a ball in a way that it hits (a player).
- The Braves retaliated by plunking Harper in the next inning.
To make a brief, dull sound, such as the thud of something landing on a surface; to thud.
•
To move (something) with a sudden push.
- The moving galley's bow was plunking them [oars] back through their own oar-holes, and I could hear no end of a shindy in the decks below. — 1893
(figurative) Followed by for: to choose, to opt; to plump.
(Scotland) To be absent from (school) without permission; to be a truant.
•
(Scotland) To play truant.
- Unless we repented and humbly begged for mercy … I might as well tell lies, break crockery, kick the cat, plunk from school, and enjoy my transgressions. — 1979
(no longer used) Of a raven: to croak.

noun4

•
A brief, dull sound, such as the sound of a string of a stringed instrument being plucked, or the thud of something landing on a surface.
- They listened and could hear the steady plunk, plunk of an axe somewhere far above them. — 1930
(informal) A (heavy) blow or hit.
•
(slang, no longer used) A dollar.
- Den I gives him a five-plunk piece, and he gins me the shange. — 1885
(slang, no longer used) A large sum of money.

adverb2

(informal) With a brief, dull sound, such as the thud of something landing on a surface.
•
(informal) Directly, exactly, precisely.
- [I]t's one thing to be buried with all your pleasures, like Sardanapalus; it's another to be buried right plunk in front of them, where you can see them. — 1953

exclamation1

•
Often reduplicated: used to represent a brief, dull sound, such as the sound of a string of a stringed instrument being plucked, or the thud of something landing on a surface.
- Look at me; is my eye dilated? do you notice a quiver anywhere? Feel my pulse: plunk—plunk—plunk—same as if I were asleep. — 1892

forms

plunked · plunking · plunks

This dictionary works without the internet: on your phone · in Chrome