jangle
To cause to make a rattling metallic soundTo cause (something) to make a rattling metallic sound.
» The bracelets jangled on her wrist.
Meaning
7 senses(transitive)To cause (something) to make a rattling metallic sound.
make a sound typical of metallic objects
(figuratively, transitive)To express or say (something) in an argumentative or harsh manner.
(figuratively, transitive)To irritate or jar (something).
The sound from the next apartment jangled my nerves.
(intransitive)To make a rattling metallic sound.
(Northern England, intransitive)Of a person: to speak loudly or too much; to chatter, to prate; of a bird: to make a noisy chattering sound.
(archaic, intransitive)To speak in an angry or harsh manner.
(archaic, intransitive)To quarrel verbally; to wrangle.
Examples
5 sentencesThe bracelets jangled on her wrist.
I listened to her keys jangle.
The construction site noise jangled my nerves, keeping me from sleeping well.
Investor nerves are jangling.
My nerves jangle when I'm sharply disturbed in sleep.
Translations
2 languagesOrigin
From Middle English janglen (“to talk excessively, chatter; to talk idly, gossip; to nag;From Middle English janglen (“to talk excessively, chatter; to talk idly, gossip; to nag; to complain, grumble; to argue, debate; to discuss, talk; to talk indistinctly, jabber; to make a noise or outcry; of a bird: to chatter, twitter”) [and other forms], from Old French jangler (“to chatter, gossip; to argue noisily; to bawl”) [and other forms]; further etymology uncertain, perhaps from Old Dutch *jangelon (“to jeer”) (compare Middle Dutch jangelen (“to murmur, grumble, buzz, mutter, drone, simmer”), modern Dutch jengelen (“to whine, persistently nag, whimper”), though the Oxford English Dictionary finds this improbable) and ultimately imitative.
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Forms
jangles, jangling, jangled, jangledSynonyms
3 synonyms- make a sound typical of metallic objects:jinglejingle-jangle
Word family
9 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle