clang

English [edit]

clang (plural clangs)

A loud, ringing sound, like that made by free-hanging metal objects striking each other.
Quality of tone.
The cry of some birds, including the crane and the goose.
(psychology, psychiatry) A word or phrase linked only by sound and not by meaning, characteristic of some mental disorders.
- Oliver Sacks, Awakenings
  
  For much of this day, Mrs Y. wrote in her diary, covering page after page in a rapid scrawl full of paligraphic repetitions, puns, clangs, and violent, perseverative crossings-out […]

loud ringing sound

quality of tone

cry of crane, goose, etc

clang (third-person singular simple present clangs, present participle clanging, simple past and past participle clanged)

(transitive) To strike (objects) together so as to produce a clang.
- Prior
  
  The fierce Caretes […] clanged their sounding arms.
(intransitive) To give out a clang; to resound.
- 1933, Norvell Page, Wings of the Black Death
  
  A cell door clanged metallically and Wentworth was flung inside. He tripped, collapsed upon the concrete floor.
- 1920, Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence Chapter XXIX
  
  The clanging and groaning of the train came nearer, and it staggered slowly into the station like a prey- laden monster into its lair.
- 1917, Rose Wilder Lane, Henry Ford’s Own Story
  
  Then the sparks flew from the anvil while the great hammer clanged on the metal, shaping it, and Henry begged to be allowed to try it

transitive: strike (objects) together to produce a clang

intransitive: give out a clang