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twang

(twăng)

v. twanged, twang·ing, twangs

v.intr.

1. To emit a sharp, vibrating sound, as the string of a musical instrument does when it is plucked.

2. To resound with a sharp, vibrating sound.

3. To speak in a strongly nasal tone of voice.

v.tr.

1. To cause to make a sharp, vibrating sound: twanged the car antenna.

2. To utter with a strongly nasal tone of voice.

1. A sharp, vibrating sound, as that of a plucked string.

2. A strongly nasal tone of voice, especially as a peculiarity of certain regional dialects.

[Imitative.]

twangy adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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