/ bæŋ; NAmE / verb , noun , adverb , exclamation
■ verb
1.
bang (on) sth to hit sth in a way that makes a loud noise :
[ vn ]
The baby was banging the table with his spoon.
[ v ]
She banged on the door angrily.
➡ note at hit
2.
to close sth or to be closed with a loud noise
SYN slam :
[ vn ]
Don't bang the door when you go out!
[ v ]
A window was banging somewhere (= opening and closing noisily) .
[ v - adj ]
The door banged shut behind her.
3.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to put sth somewhere suddenly and violently
SYN slam :
He banged the money down on the counter.
She banged saucepans around irritably.
4.
[ vn ] to hit sth, especially a part of the body, against sth by accident
SYN bump :
She tripped and banged her knee on the desk.
5.
[ vn ] ( taboo , slang ) ( of a man ) to have sex with a woman
•
IDIOMS
see drum noun , head noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- bang about / around
- bang into sth
- bang on about sth
- bang sb up
- bang sth up
■ noun
1.
a sudden loud noise :
The door swung shut with a bang.
Suddenly there was a loud bang and a puff of smoke.
—see also big bang
2.
a sudden painful blow on a part of the body :
a bang on the head
3.
bangs [ pl. ] ( NAmE ) = fringe (1)
4.
= bhang
5.
( informal , computing ) the symbol ( ! )
•
IDIOMS
- bang for your buck
- with a bang
—more at earth noun , slap adverb
■ adverb
( informal , especially BrE ) exactly; completely :
Our computers are bang up to date .
My estimate was bang on target.
You're bang on time, as usual
—see also slap bang
•
IDIOMS
- bang goes sth
- go bang
•
IDIOMS
see right noun
■ exclamation
used to show the sound of sth loud, like a gun :
'Bang, bang, you're dead!' shouted the little boy.
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: imitative, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare with Old Norse bang hammering.