gong
[ gawng, gong ]
/ gɔŋ, gɒŋ /
noun
a large bronze disk, of Asian origin, having an upturned rim, that produces a vibrant, hollow tone when struck, usually with a stick or hammer that has a padded head.
a shallow bell sounded by a hammer operated electrically or mechanically: The fire-alarm system will automatically sound the gong.
(in a clock or watch) a rod or wire, either straight or bent into a spiral, on which the time is struck.
British Slang.
a medal or military decoration.
verb (used without object)
to sound as a gong does; ring, chime, or reverberate.
Origin of gong
1800–10; < Malay, Javanese: any suspended bossed and rimmed gong; presumably imitative
OTHER WORDS FROM gong
gong·like, adjectiveWords nearby gong
Example sentences from the Web for gong
British Dictionary definitions for gong
gong
/ (ɡɒŋ) /
noun
Also called: tam-tam
a percussion instrument of indefinite pitch, consisting of a metal platelike disc struck with a soft-headed drumstick
a rimmed metal disc, hollow metal hemisphere, or metal strip, tube, or wire that produces a note when struck. It may be used to give alarm signals when operated electromagnetically
a fixed saucer-shaped bell, as on an alarm clock, struck by a mechanically operated hammer
British slang
a medal, esp a military one
verb
(intr)
to sound a gong
(tr)
(of traffic police) to summon (a driver) to stop by sounding a gong
Derived forms of gong
gonglike, adjectiveWord Origin for gong
C17: from Malay, of imitative origin