thump
Americannoun
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a blow with something thick and heavy, producing a dull sound; a heavy knock.
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the sound made by or as if by such a blow.
verb (used with object)
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to strike or beat with something thick and heavy, so as to produce a dull sound; pound.
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(of an object) to strike against (something) heavily and noisily.
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Informal. to thrash severely.
verb (used without object)
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to strike, beat, or fall heavily, with a dull sound.
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to walk with heavy steps; pound.
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to palpitate or beat violently, as the heart.
noun
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the sound of a heavy solid body hitting or pounding a comparatively soft surface
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a heavy blow with the hand
he gave me a thump on the back
verb
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(tr) to strike or beat heavily; pound
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(intr) to throb, beat, or pound violently
his heart thumped with excitement
Other Word Forms
- thumper noun
- unthumped adjective
Etymology
Origin of thump
First recorded in 1530–40; imitative
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At first, the sounds came from under the table, but when the group sang, the raps thumped in time to the music on the table’s top.
From Literature
The big thumps were coming one after another now.
From Literature
It was so still in the bottoms I could hear my heart thumping.
From Literature
It filled the air with thumps and bumps.
From Literature
Arsenal picked it up with relish in this thumping 4-1 win.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
