2026

Twang

//twæŋ//

Definitions

1
The sharp, quick sound of a vibrating tight string, for example, of a bow or a musical instrument.
Let me give you in rude recitation, with here and there a twang and a caper of the guitar-strings, my vision of the Cid's sally from his besieged castle of Alcocer—the first outburst of that Spanish deluge that never receded till it rose over the dead body of the last Moor.
2
A particular sharp vibrating sound characteristic of electric guitars.
3
A trace of a regional or foreign accent in someone's voice.
Despite having lived in Canada for 20 years, he still has that Eastern-European twang in his voice.

1
To produce or cause to produce a sharp vibrating sound, like a tense string pulled and suddenly let go.
2
To have a nasal sound.
3
To have a trace of a regional or foreign accent.

Word Origin

Onomatopoeic. Compare Middle English twengen (“to pinch, tweak”) (whence modern English twinge), from Old English twenġan (“to pinch, twinge”); Middle English twingen (“to afflict, torment, oppress”),...

Explore more words in the Lekhori DictionaryWord of the Day

Translations

Select a language to see translations