Definition

1. Noun:

   • A forceful blow or impact: A hard, vigorous hit that produces a loud sound.
   • A loud, ringing sound: The sharp, resonant noise produced by such a blow or impact.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To strike or hit with great force: To deliver a powerful, resounding blow to something.
   • To propel or drive forcefully: To throw or hit an object with significant power.
   • To beat or attack forcefully: To assail something repeatedly or with vigor.

3. Verb (intransitive):

   • To make a loud, ringing noise: To produce a sharp, resonant sound like that of a heavy blow.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He gave the door a mighty whang with his fist.
  • The whang of the hammer on the anvil echoed through the workshop.

• Verb (transitive):

  • The carpenter whanged the nail into the beam with one powerful stroke.
  • He whanged the ball clear over the fence.

• Verb (intransitive):

  • The old bell whanged loudly in the tower.

Advanced Usage

• "to whang away at something": To attack, work on, or criticize something persistently and with force.
  • The critic continued to whang away at the author's latest novel.
  • He's been whanging away at that project all week.

Variants and Related Words

• Whack (noun/verb): A sharp blow or the act of striking. Often used similarly but can imply a more solid, duller sound than .
• Bang (noun/verb): A sudden loud noise or a heavy blow. Shares the sense of impact and noise but is more common.

Synonyms

• Noun (for the blow): Smash, bash, thwack, wallop.
• Verb (to hit): Smash, slam, pound, belt.
• Verb (to make sound): Clang, clank, ring, reverberate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Whang away (at): As detailed in 'Advanced Usage', this phrasal verb means to persist in an effort, often involving forceful action or criticism.

Related Idioms

• No direct idioms are uniquely centered on the word "whang." It is typically used in literal contexts describing forceful action or sound.

Noun

1. the act of hitting vigorously
   • he gave the table a whack

Verb

1. attack forcefully
   • whang away at the school reform plan
2. propel or hit with force
   • whang the ball
3. beat with force