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to plink

to plink

1 7.3
To make a short high sound by hitting small hard things
  • verb
  • /plɪŋk/
translation icon : tintinear
  • As she practiced, the notes began to plink melodiously from the piano.
  • hear plink, plink
  • plink away
  • plink in the water

Examples

  • Dark figures passed back and forth before it, and after a time, one of the guards brought out a fiddle and plinked at the strings to quiz the instrument for tune.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Though she played again, she failed to plink out the last notes of the melody.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • With the push of a lever, the clock was able to plink out five tunes.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Plink, plink—onto the night table beside the professor's bed.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Smacking the picture of Stonewall Jackson with the back of my head splinters the glass, swing-dangles my sunglasses loose from one ear, and pops one lens to plink and roll along the hardwood floor.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • He's been around since September—what do you know about him?" I reached into the bowl on the table, snapped the end off a pea, and ran my thumb along the split pod, letting the peas plink into the metal bowl in my lap.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The rain started to plink against the metal roof, creating a soothing rhythm.

  • He gently plinked the guitar strings, producing a cheerful tune.

Synonyms

to ring
vsto plink
430 1.0

To make a clear sound like a bell that can be heard far away

is a smaller high-pitched sound focused on brief delicate notes
to ding
vsto plink
22 6.1

To make a short high sound like a small bell, for example on a phone

is the same kind of brief high metallic sound from struck notes
to clink
vsto plink
16 5.1

To make a short, sharp sound by hitting glass or metal together

is the same brief metallic ring but often from playing simple notes
to tinkle
vsto plink
15 3.9

To make a light clear ringing sound like a small bell

is similarly high pitched but more often very brief single notes
to tock
vsto plink
14 6.0

To make a short sharp sound like a clock

is a high metallic ring rather than a dry ticking sound
to clack
vsto plink
5 7.2

To make short, sharp clicking sounds

is similar in shortness but is metallic and ringing rather than clicking
to peep
vsto plink
2 1.5

To make a short high sound like a baby bird

is a similar short high noise but usually metallic or instrument based
to ching
vsto plink
1 8.8

To make a short sharp ringing sound like metal hitting metal

is the same brief metallic ringing often from small struck notes
to chink
vsto plink
1 7.7

To make a short high ringing sound like small metal pieces hitting

is a similar high metallic sound often from simple instrument notes
to tink
vsto plink
1 9.5

To make a short high ringing sound like a small bell

is likewise brief and high but often from struck instrument notes
to jingle-jangle
vsto plink
1 7.5

A light ringing sound that small metal things make when they touch

focuses on single short high tones rather than repeated jingling
to twang
vsto plink
1 6.5

To make a sharp vibrating sound by plucking a string

is a struck metallic ring rather than a vibrating plucked tone
to dingling
vsto plink
6.1

To make a light ringing sound like a small bell

is usually a single short high sound rather than a repeated ring
to tuk
vsto plink
9.9

To give a short, light knock on something

is a brief ringing sound rather than a plain knock or tap
to twank
vsto plink
9.9

To pluck a string or rubber band to make a sharp, clear sound

is a short struck ringing sound, not a sustained vibrating pluck

How High-Pitched

to tinkle
15 3.9
to ping
4 4.8
to plink
1 7.3
to clink
16 5.1
to clunk
4 6.5
to thud
2 3.5

Surface Forms

plink infinitive
plinked past
plinked past participle
plinking present participle
plinks third person singular

Etymology

Plink as a verb comes from the same copied sound 'plink' and means to make that short, high metallic ring, as when a coin drops into a jar. So to plink is to produce that small sharp sound.