I. thud 1 /θʌd/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
the low sound made by a heavy object hitting something else
a dull/hard/heavy thud
There was a dull thud as the box hit the floor.
His head hit the floor with a sickening thud.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ made by things hitting other things
▪ bang a loud sound caused especially when something hard or heavy hits something else:
I heard a loud bang and rushed out to see what had happened.
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He slammed the door shut with a bang.
▪ crash a very loud sound caused when something hits something else, especially when damage is caused:
The tray of dishes fell to the floor with a crash.
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I heard an enormous crash outside our house, and I went to see what had happened.
▪ thud a quiet low sound made when a heavy object falls down onto surface:
There was a dull thud as the box hit the floor.
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His head hit the ground with a sickening thud.
▪ thump a dull loud sound made when a heavy object hits something else:
There was a loud thump as Eddie threw Luther back against the wall.
▪ clink a short ringing sound made when two glass, metal, or china objects hit each other:
the clink of champagne glasses
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The clink of cutlery could be heard in the restaurant.
▪ tinkle the pleasant sound that is made by light pieces of glass or metal hitting each other repeatedly:
He listened to the faint tinkle of cow bells in the distance.
▪ jingle the sound of small metal objects being shaken together:
the jingle of her bracelets
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the jingle of keys
▪ rattle a short repeated sound made when things hit against each other - used especially when part of something is loose and is hitting against something:
There was a strange rattle coming from the engine.
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the rattle of the trolley
II. thud 2 BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle thudded , present participle thudding ) [intransitive]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: Probably from Old English thyddan 'to push forcefully' ]
1 . [always + adverb/preposition] to hit something with a low sound:
The stone thudded to the ground.
waves thudding against the side of the ship
2 . [always + adverb/preposition] to walk or run with your feet making a heavy sound as they touch the ground:
A horse thudded over the frozen grass.
3 . if your heart thuds, it beats strongly because you are excited or frightened:
Peter was aware of his heart thudding in his chest.