twang

Everyday

1. A twang is a sharp, ringing sound like the sound of a tight string being plucked. tree →
2. A twang is a way of speaking where the voice sounds partly through the nose, often part of an accent: «a Southern twang». tree →
3. To twang is to make that sound, or to pluck a string so it makes it. tree →

In the lessons

In music and science lessons on sound, a plucked rubber band or guitar string twangs; a tighter or shorter string makes a higher twang. In stories «a twang» of an accent tells the reader where a character comes from. Phrases: «the twang of a guitar», «a country twang», «an Australian twang».

Examples

• The guitar string made a loud twang. tree →
• He twanged the rubber band across the box. tree →
• She spoke with a slight American twang. tree →
• The arrow left the bow with a twang. tree →
• Stretch the band tighter for a higher twang. tree →
• The banjo twanged in the background. tree →
• Grandpa has a Texan twang. tree →
• He bent his bow and the sinewy string twanged. tree →

Note

Plural: twangs. Past: twanged. «Twang» is an onomatopoeia — the word sounds like the noise it names.