/ θʌmp; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to hit sb/sth hard, especially with your closed hand :
[ vn ]
He thumped the table angrily.
She couldn't get her breath and had to be thumped on the back.
( informal )
I'll thump you if you say that again.
( figurative )
He thumped out a tune (= played it very loudly) on the piano.
[also v ]
2.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to fall on or hit a surface hard, with a loud dull sound; to make sth do this :
[ v ]
A bird thumped against the window.
[ vn ]
He thumped the report down on my desk.
3.
[ v ] to beat strongly :
My heart was thumping with excitement.
—see also tub-thumping
■ noun
1.
the sound of sth heavy hitting the ground or another object :
There was a thump as the truck hit the bank.
2.
( BrE , informal ) an act of hitting sb/sth hard :
She gave him a thump on the back.
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: imitative.