bang

bang¹

/bang/, n.

1. a loud, sudden, explosive noise, as the discharge of a gun.

2. a resounding stroke or blow: a nasty bang on the head.

3. Informal. a sudden movement or show of energy: He started with a bang.

4. energy; vitality; spirit: The bang has gone out of my work.

5. Informal. sudden or intense pleasure; thrill; excitement: a big bang out of seeing movies.

6. Slang (vulgar). sexual intercourse.

7. Printing and Computer Slang. an exclamation point.

v.t.

8. to strike or beat resoundingly; pound: to bang a door.

9. to hit or bump painfully: to bang one's ankle on a chair leg.

10. to throw or set down roughly; slam: He banged the plates on the table.

11. Slang (vulgar). to have sexual intercourse with.

v.i.

12. to strike violently or noisily: to bang on the door.

13. to make a loud, sudden, explosive noise like that of a violent blow: The guns banged all night.

14. Slang (vulgar). to have sexual intercourse.

15. bang into, to collide with; bump into: The truck skidded on the ice and banged into a parked car.

16. bang up, to damage: A passing car banged up our fender.

adv.

17. suddenly and loudly; abruptly or violently: She fell bang against the wall.

18. directly; precisely; right: He stood bang in the middle of the flower bed.

19. bang off, Chiefly Brit. Slang. immediately; right away.

20. bang on, Chiefly Brit. Slang. terrific; marvelous; just right: That hat is absolutely bang on.

[1540-50; 1930-35 for def. 5; cf. ON banga to beat, hammer, LG bangen to strike, beat, G dial. banken; perh. orig. imit.]

Syn. 2. smack, clout, box, wallop, sock, bash, cuff.

bang²

/bang/, n.

1. Often, bangs. a fringe of hair combed or brushed forward over the forehead.

v.t.

2. to cut (the hair) so as to form a fringe over the forehead.

3. to dock (the tail of a horse or dog).

[1860-65, Amer.; short for BANGTAIL]

bang³

/bang/, n.

bhang.

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