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Clang vs Tinkle - What's the difference?

clang | tinkle |

In transitive terms the difference between clang and tinkle

is that clang is to strike (objects) together so as to produce a clang while tinkle is to indicate, signal, etc. by tinkling.

In intransitive terms the difference between clang and tinkle

is that clang is to give out a clang; to resound while tinkle is to make light metallic sounds, rather like a very small bell.

clang

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A loud, ringing sound, like that made by free-hanging metal objects striking each other.
  • Quality of tone.
  • The cry of some birds, including the crane and the goose.
  • (psychology, psychiatry) A word or phrase linked only by sound and not by meaning, characteristic of some mental disorders.
  • * Oliver Sacks, Awakenings
  • For much of this day, Mrs Y. wrote in her diary, covering page after page in a rapid scrawl full of paligraphic repetitions, puns, clangs, and violent, perseverative crossings-out

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To strike (objects) together so as to produce a clang.
  • * Prior
  • The fierce Caretes clanged their sounding arms.
  • To give out a clang; to resound.
  • * 1933 , Norvell Page, Wings of the Black Death
  • A cell door clanged metallically and Wentworth was flung inside. He tripped, collapsed upon the concrete floor.
  • * 1920 , Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence Chapter XXIX
  • The clanging and groaning of the train came nearer, and it staggered slowly into the station like a prey- laden monster into its lair.
  • * 1917 , Rose Wilder Lane, Henry Ford’s Own Story
  • Then the sparks flew from the anvil while the great hammer clanged on the metal, shaping it, and Henry begged to be allowed to try it

    tinkle

    English

    Verb

    (tinkl)
  • To make light metallic sounds, rather like a very small bell.
  • The glasses tinkled together as they were placed on the table.
  • * Dodsley
  • The sprightly horse / Moves to the music of his tinkling bells.
  • (intransitive, informal, juvenile) To urinate.
  • To cause to tinkle.
  • To indicate, signal, etc. by tinkling.
  • The butler tinkled dinner.
  • To hear, or resound with, a small, sharp sound.
  • * Dryden
  • And his ears tinkled , and the colour fled.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A light metallic sound, resembling the tinkling of bells or wind chimes.
  • * 1994 , (Stephen Fry), (The Hippopotamus) , ch. 2:
  • At the very moment he cried out, David realised that what he had run into was only the Christmas tree. . . . There were no sounds of any movement upstairs: no shouts, no sleepy grumbles, only a gentle tinkle from the decorations as the tree had recovered from the collision.
  • (UK, informal) A telephone call.
  • Give me a tinkle when you arrive.
  • (informal, euphemism) An act of urination.