cluck

1 of 2

verb

clucked; clucking; clucks

intransitive verb

1
: to make a cluck
2
: to make a clicking sound with the tongue
3
: to express interest or concern
critics clucked over the new developments

transitive verb

1
: to call with a cluck
2
: to express with interest or concern

cluck

2 of 2

noun

1
: the characteristic sound made by a hen especially in calling her chicks
2
: a stupid or naive person
a dumb cluck

Examples of cluck in a Sentence

Verb The hen clucked at her chicks. The driver clucked at the horses to get them moving. Commentators have been clucking over his lack of experience. Noun Don't be such a dumb cluck. stuck with a bunch of clucks on an extended bus tour
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Even a peep of news about a new flu pandemic is enough to set scientists clucking about eggs. Arthur Allen, CBS News, 29 May 2024 Even a trip to the restroom is a delight, as the sound of chickens clucking in the coop above the bathrooms welcomes you in the door. Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 19 Feb. 2024
Noun
Many still hunters use a step-step-pause cadence to mimic a deer waking or will cluck on a turkey call occasionally while scratching the leaves with a boot. Matthew Every, Field & Stream, 13 Mar. 2024 Hypnotists hush our brains’ analytic tendencies: Shhhh, stop worrying about your tax return and cluck like a chicken. Emily Latimer, Longreads, 25 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cluck 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cluck.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

imitative

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cluck was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near cluck

Cite this Entry

“Cluck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cluck. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

cluck

noun
ˈklək
: the call of a hen especially to her chicks
cluck verb

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