clack

verb \ ˈklak \

|Updated on: 7 Aug 2018

Examples: clack in a Sentence

Definition of clack

clacked; clacking; clacks

intransitive verb

1 : chatter, prattle

2 : to make an abrupt striking sound or series of sounds

3 of fowl : cackle, cluck

transitive verb

1 : to cause to make a clatter

2 : to produce with a chattering sound; specifically : blab

—

clacker

noun

See clack defined for English-language learners

See clack defined for kids

Examples of clack in a Sentence

I heard her heels clacking down the hall.
He clacked his teeth together.

Recent Examples of clack from the Web

Peer pressure had brought me to this moment, clacking in my wooden sandals to the altar.

— sara eckel, Longreads, "The Hole in My Soul," 1 June 2018
Some clacked away on the keyboards of their laptops, other scribbled notes on legal pads as many of the world’s top basketball prospects ran up and down the court in front of them.

— malika andrews, chicagotribune.com, "NBA teams value draft combine interactions even though some top players are no-shows," 18 May 2018
Maybe another little girl who loves football will walk past the Panthers practice fields one morning and hear the pads clacking.

— jourdan rodrigue, charlotteobserver, "She wanted to coach football, but everyone told her no. This spring, Panthers said yes.," 13 June 2018
The inner sanctum has long tables with dozens of tech people clacking away.

— ben stewart, Popular Mechanics, "48 Hours Without Four Wheels: What I Learned Living the Ridesharing Scooter Life," 5 June 2018
Renowned Lego artist Nathan Sawaya has gone from snapping bricks to clacking the keyboard.

— borys kit, The Hollywood Reporter, "Lego Artist Nathan Sawaya Launches Children's Book Series," 1 June 2018
Teachers talk about being warned against wearing shoes that clack and clothes that rustle.

— ann doss helms, charlotteobserver, "Cover the ABCs. Silence the kids. Test time in NC can be intense, teachers say.," 31 May 2018
News flowed slowly before the internet age; teletype machines clacked out stories at 66 words per minute.

— jay reeves, Fox News, "AP was there: Journalists recall covering MLK assassination," 5 Apr. 2018
News flowed slowly before the internet age; teletype machines clacked out stories at 66 words per minute.

— jay reeves, Fox News, "AP was there: Journalists recall covering MLK assassination," 5 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clack.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of clack

Middle English, of imitative origin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

clack Synonyms

Synonyms

clatter, rattle;

Related Words

chink, chirp, clank, click, clink;

clang, clash, crash;

spatter, sputter;

racket;

clack

noun

Definition of clack

1 a : rapid continuous talk : chatter

b : tongue

2 archaic : an object (such as a valve) that produces clapping or rattling noises usually in regular rapid sequence

3 : a sound of clacking

the clack of a typewriter

Recent Examples of clack from the Web

In front and on display to the street is a lounge with Art Deco curves, where bartenders percussively clack shakers behind a long river of zinc.

— New York Times, "It’s Not Fake French, It’s Frenchette," 10 July 2018
The sound of a newspaper office in those days was the clack-clacking of sturdy typewriters.

— bob ryan, BostonGlobe.com, "Remembering my start, 50 years ago, at the Globe," 9 June 2018
The moment burned brightly with the clacks of flip phones and the snaps of fingertips.

— cassie owens, Philly.com, "Where have all the musical ringtones gone?," 24 May 2018
Students being tested on computers each sat in a private room so the clickety-clack of the keyboards wouldn’t disturb classmates.

— douglas belkin, WSJ, "Colleges Bend the Rules for More Students, Give Them Extra Help," 24 May 2018
The clickity-clack of typing quickly on a keyboard. 20.

— noelle devoe, Seventeen, "21 Most Epically Satisfying Sounds In The Entire World," 29 Apr. 2015
Cherry Reds also don't make much sound, which may bother typists who are used to at least some clickety-clack even with rubber-domed keyboards.

— ian paul, PCWorld, "Corsair's compact K63 mechanical keyboard is made for gamers and only $60 today," 12 Apr. 2018
The only other sounds are from the sticks (some loud percussive clacks) or breathing.

— alastair macaulay, New York Times, "Review: In ‘Latitude,’ Dance in Silence Makes Its Own Inner Music," 11 Feb. 2018
Manville is steely and proper, and watching her clack through the house in her tasteful black heels is a kind of medicinal pleasure.

— stephanie zacharek, Time, "Phantom Thread Works Hard at Being a Masterpiece. But Is It?," 21 Dec. 2017

First Known Use of clack

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

CLACK Defined for English Language Learners

clack

verb

Definition of clack for English Language Learners

: to make or cause something to make a short sharp sound or series of short sharp sounds

CLACK Defined for Kids

clack

verb \ ˈklak \

Definition of clack for Students

clacked; clacking

1 : to talk rapidly and without stopping

2 : to make or cause to make a short sharp sound

… suddenly he began to shiver … I could hear his teeth clacking.
—Theodore Taylor, The Cay

clack

noun

Definition of clack for Students

1 : rapid continuous talk

The disc jockey's clack went on all morning.

2 : a sound of clacking

the clack of a typewriter

Learn More about clack

See words that rhyme with clack Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for clack Spanish Central: Translation of clack Nglish: Translation of clack for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of clack for Arabic speakers

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clack

Definition of clack

clacker

Examples of clack in a Sentence

Recent Examples of clack from the Web

Origin and Etymology of clack

clack Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

clack

Definition of clack

Recent Examples of clack from the Web

First Known Use of clack

CLACK Defined for English Language Learners

clack

Definition of clack for English Language Learners

CLACK Defined for Kids

clack

Definition of clack for Students

clack

Definition of clack for Students

Learn More about clack

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