noun
cluck
kluhk
Cluck (noun) means the short, clicking sound a hen makes. Example: “The chicken gave a soft cluck as she settled onto her eggs.”
noun
1
The short, clicking sound a hen makes.
"The chicken gave a soft cluck as she settled onto her eggs."
verb
1
To make this sound, or to make a similar clicking noise with the tongue in disapproval.
"She clucked her tongue at the mess in the kitchen."
"The hens clucked nervously when the fox came near."
How to use cluck
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe clicking sound hens make, or a similar tongue-click people use to show disapproval.
Common pairings
cluck like a hen
cluck one's tongue
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like cluck.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- clucks
- Third person singular
- clucks
- Past tense
- clucked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The chicken gave a soft _____ as she settled onto her eggs.
Etymology
From Old English cloccian, an imitative word that mimics the sound itself — the same pattern shows up in German glucken and Dutch klokken.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for cluck
See all rhymes for cluck →Frequently asked questions
What does “cluck” mean?
The word “cluck” means the short, clicking sound a hen makes. In plain terms, the clicking sound hens make, or a similar tongue-click people use to show disapproval.
How do you pronounce “cluck”?
“Cluck” is pronounced kluhk (/klʌk/ in IPA).
How do you use “cluck” in a sentence?
Here is “cluck” used in a sentence: “The chicken gave a soft cluck as she settled onto her eggs.”
What part of speech is “cluck”?
Depending on how it is used, “cluck” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cluck” come from?
The word “cluck” comes from Old English. From Old English cloccian, an imitative word that mimics the sound itself — the same pattern shows up in German glucken and Dutch klokken.
How many meanings does “cluck” have?
“Cluck” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the short, clicking sound a hen makes.
