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plunks

 - 3 dictionary results

plunk

[pluhngk]
–verb (used with object)
1. to pluck (a stringed instrument or its strings); twang: to plunk a guitar.
2. to throw, push, put, drop, etc., heavily or suddenly; plump (often fol. by down): Plunk down your money. She plunked herself down on the seat.
3. to push, shove, toss, etc. (sometimes fol. by in, over, etc.): to plunk the ball over the net; to plunk a pencil into a drawer.
–verb (used without object)
4. to give forth a twanging sound.
5. to drop heavily or suddenly; plump (often fol. by down): to plunk down somewhere and take a nap.
–noun
6. act or sound of plunking.
7. Informal. a direct, forcible blow.
8. Slang. a dollar.
–adverb
9. Informal. with a plunking sound.
10. Informal. squarely; exactly: The tennis ball landed plunk in the middle of the net.

Origin:
1760–70; expressive word akin to pluck
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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plunk   (plŭngk)   
v.   plunked also plonked, plunk·ing also plonk·ing, plunks also plonks

v.   tr.
  1. To throw or place heavily or abruptly: plunked the money down on the counter.

  2. To strum or pluck (a stringed instrument).

v.   intr.
  1. To drop or fall abruptly or heavily; plump: plunked onto the couch with a sigh of relief.

  2. To emit a hollow twanging sound.

n.  
  1. Informal A heavy blow or stroke.

  2. A short hollow twanging sound.

adv.   Informal
  1. With a short hollow thud.

  2. Exactly; precisely: The dart landed plunk in the center of the target.


[Imitative.]
plunk'er n., plunk'y adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

plunk 
1805, "to pluck a stringed instrument;" 1808 in sense of "drop down abruptly." Probably of imitative origin in both cases.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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