clank

plural clanks

1. A loud, hard sound of metal hitting metal.
2. derogatoryhumorousSynonym of clanker (“a robot or artificial intelligence”).

   [NO] CLANKS ⇨

   2001 February, Phil Foglio, Kaja Foglio, Girl Genius, number 1, Seattle, Wash.: Studio Foglio, →OCLC, archived from the original on 24 Sep 2001, page 6

   2 more examples

   [S]he […] finds herself surrounded by three rather repulsive young males. Even in her fear, her curves are noteworthy. “What do you want?” she cries. “Are you a clank, baby?”

   2009, Daniel Robinson, “Robo-Gambit”, in Flommy the Robot, Part One: Attack of the Robot Planet, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 13

   Well, even on earth (depending on the continuity) he's been up against evil clones and/or tinkered clones of himself, or pseudo-Krypotonian constructs or clanks.

   2009 July 15, Wayne Throop, “Is Superman Damaged Goods?”, in rec.arts.sf.written (Usenet), archived from the original on 20 Jul 2026

   Synonyms: clanker

present singular third person clanks · participle present clanking · participle past clanked · past clanked

1. intransitiveTo make a clanking sound

   The chains clanked.

   2 more examples

   Slung from his shoulders clanks a two-handed sword, the pommel a huge star-ruby carven in the image of a heart, for the heart is his sign and symbol.

   1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 7

   Far less straightforward was what happened at about 0130 on Friday June 2 1944, as a long goods train was chuffing and clanking its unhurried way across the darkened landscape towards Soham, from Ely.

   2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 948, page 42

2. transitiveTo cause to sound with a clank.

   The prisoners clank their chains.