clack

Everyday

1. To make a short, sharp sound like two hard things hitting each other. tree →
2. The sound itself (the clack of heels, the clack of a keyboard). tree →
3. (informal) To chatter loudly and on and on. tree →

In the lessons

In stories it is a sound word that helps the reader hear the scene — heels on a hard floor, knitting needles, an old typewriter, a train on the tracks. It tells the reader there is a sharp, repeated, hard sound. Similar: «click», «clatter».

Examples

• Her shoes clacked on the stone floor. tree →
• We heard the clack of knitting needles. tree →
• The old typewriter clacked as Grandad typed. tree →
• The train clacked over the rails. tree →
• The stork clacked its long beak. tree →
• The castanets clacked in time to the music. tree →
• Keyboards were clacking all over the computer room. tree →
• ‘Click, clock, clack, Our golden maid’s come back.’ tree →

Note

Regular verb: clacked, clacking. It is an onomatopoeic word — it sounds like the noise it names. Not the same as «clap» (hands) or «clank» (a heavy metal sound).