A gong is a large, flat, circular piece of metal that you hit with a hammer to make a sound like a loud bell. Gongs are sometimes used as musical instruments, or to give a signal that it is time to do something.
On the stroke of seven, a gong summons guests into the dining-room.
2. countable noun
People sometimes refer to a medal or an award as a gong.
[British, informal]
The comedian finally got the gong he had been promised.
...peerages, knighthoods and other assorted gongs.
gong in British English
(ɡɒŋ)
noun
1. Also called: tam-tam
a percussion instrument of indefinite pitch, consisting of a metal platelike disc struck with a soft-headed drumstick
2.
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
3.
a fixed saucer-shaped bell, as on an alarm clock, struck by a mechanically operated hammer
4. British slang
a medal, esp a military one
verb
5. (intransitive)
to sound a gong
6. (transitive)
(of traffic police) to summon (a driver) to stop by sounding a gong
Derived forms
gonglike (ˈgongˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C17: from Malay, of imitative origin
gong in American English
(gɔŋ; gɑŋ)
noun
1.
a slightly convex metallic disk that gives a loud, resonant tone when struck: used as a signal, percussion instrument, etc.
2.
a saucer-shaped bell with such a tone
3. British, Slang
a medal
Word origin
Malay guṅ: echoic
Examples of 'gong' in a sentence
gong
Company donations are usually about winning gongs or kudos for the chairman.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
On the left are nominations for five of the top gongs.
The Sun (2010)
He should be awarded a gong for his retro hand luggage.
The Sun (2015)
It has won all of the big comedy gongs bar one.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He still scooped a gong but this is for real.
The Sun (2008)
Is it not time for sporting gongs to be wrestled from the whim of suited committee members?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But one big gong is still missing from their trophy cabinets.
The Sun (2009)
It no longer gives gongs to pop superstars from across the pond simply because they agree to turn up.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Like a gong the sound lingered, quivering to a long stop.
Kerr, Katharine A Time of War (1993)
So why don't darts champs get gongs?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
More gongs and bells, another whiff of fragrant resin.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
Here is how he got on - and he presents his own gongs.
The Sun (2008)
Do we still give gongs to Canadians?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Shame he didn't win any gongs to take home in those huge pockets.
The Sun (2014)
My father rang a gong at meal times because we'd roam so far.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Just as their conversation gets going, a gong will sound and they will prepare to meet another potential match.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Here, one of our top columnists explains why this campaign is needed and we give gongs to recent rulings.
The Sun (2012)
Which is probably why they gave a gong to Top Gear.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I'VE been wondering who on Earth will win the top gongs at this year's film awards ceremonies.
The Sun (2016)
But there won't be a repeat of last year's boozy antics if he does get the gong.
The Sun (2016)
Word lists with
gong
instrument, orchestra
In other languages
gong
British English: gong NOUN
A gong is a large, flat, circular piece of metal that you hit with a hammer to make a sound like a loud bell.
On the stroke of seven, a gong summons guests into the dining-room.
American English: gong
Brazilian Portuguese: gongo
Chinese: 锣
European Spanish: gong
French: gong
German: Gong
Italian: gong
Japanese: どら
Korean: > 징신호용
European Portuguese: gongo
Latin American Spanish: gong
Chinese translation of 'gong'
gong
(ɡɔŋ)
n(c)
锣(鑼) (luó) (面, miàn)
All related terms of 'gong'
arch
( curved structure ) 拱 gǒng [ 个(個) gè ]
bow 1
( knot ) 蝴蝶结(結) húdiéjié [ 个(個) gè ]
for hire
( esp Brit : car, boat, building ) 供出租 gōng chūzū
for your information
供参(參)考 gōng cānkǎo
FYI
for your information/interest 供参(參)考 gòng cānkǎo
hire
( esp Brit : car, equipment, hall ) 租用 zūyòng (: worker ) 雇(僱)用 gùyòng
information
信息 xìnxī ⇒ If you have any new information, please let us know. → 如果有任何新信息，请告诉我们。 Rúguǒ yǒu rènhé xīn xìnxī, qǐng gàosù wǒmen. ⇒ For further information, contact the number below. → 如需详情，请打以下电话。 Rú xū xiángqíng, qǐng dǎ yǐxià diànhuà.
cleaner
[ c ] ( person ) 清洁(潔)工 qīngjié gōng [ 位 wèi ]
Buckingham Palace
白金汉(漢)宫(宮) Báijīnhàn Gōng
Kremlin
▶ the Kremlin ( building ) 克里姆林宫(宮) Kèlǐmǔlín Gōng ; ( government ) 俄罗(羅)斯政府 Éluósī zhèngfǔ
palace
宫(宮)殿 gōngdiàn [ 座 zuò ]
the Kremlin
( building ) 克里姆林宫(宮) Kèlǐmǔlín Gōng
alternate
( successive : actions, events ) 交替的 jiāotì de
external
( wall, surface ) 外部的 wàibù de
for external use only
( Med ) 只供外用 zhǐ gōng wàiyòng
offer
( making invitation ) 给(給) gěi ⇒ I was offered a place at Harvard University. → 哈佛大学给了我一次入学机会。 Hāfó Dàxué gěile wǒ yī cì rùxué jīhuì. ⇒ Meadows stood up and offered her his chair. → 梅多斯站起来把座位让给了她。 Méiduōsī zhàn qǐlái bǎ zuòwèi ràng gěi le tā.
to be on offer
( Comm : available ) 供出售的 gōng chūshòu de
home
[ c/u ] ( house ) 家 jiā [ 个(個) gè ] ⇒ His home is in Hampstead. → 他家在汉姆斯塔德。 Tājiā zài Hànmǔsītǎdé.
home and dry ( Brit )
大功告成 dà gōng gào chéng
notoriously
( unreliable, inefficient ) 人所共知地 rén suǒ gòng zhī de
raw
( uncooked : meat, vegetables ) 生的 shēng de
selection
[ u ] ( being chosen ) 挑选(選) tiāoxuǎn
to get a raw deal
受到不公待遇 shòudào bù gōng dàiyù
circular
( shape ) 圆(圓)形的 yuánxíng de ( movement, motion ) 环(環)形的 huánxíng de
the zodiac
黄(黃)道十二宫(宮)图(圖) huángdào shí'èr gōng tú
zodiac
▶ the zodiac 黄(黃)道十二宫(宮)图(圖) huángdào shí'èr gōng tú
available
( obtainable : article, service ) 可用的 kě yòng de ⇒ Breakfast is available from 6 a.m. → 从早晨6点起可用早餐。 Cóng zǎochén liù diǎn qǐ kě yòng zǎocān. ⇒ the best available information → 可享用的最佳资讯 kě xiǎngyòng de zuì jiā zīxùn
available for hire/rent/sale
可供雇(僱)用/出租/出售 kě gōng gùyòng/chūzū/chūshòu
lunch
[ c/u ] ( meal ) 午餐 wǔcān [ 顿 dùn ]
ride
( in car, on bicycle ) 兜风(風) dōufēng [ 次 cì ]
study
[ u ] ( activity ) 学(學)习(習) xuéxí ⇒ rooms set aside for study → 专供学习的房间 zhuān gōng xuéxí de fángjiān
( emphasizing one thing ) 仅(僅)仅(僅) jǐnjǐn ⇒ I'm only interested in finding out the facts. → 我仅仅对找出事实真相有兴趣。 Wǒ jǐnjǐn duì zhǎochū shìshí zhēnxiàng yǒu xìngqù. ⇒ The video is to be used for teaching purposes only. → 该录像仅供教学使用。 Gāi lùxiàng jǐn gōng jiàoxué shǐyòng.
sleep
[ u ] 睡眠 shuìmián
the house sleeps 4
这(這)个(個)房子可供4个(個)人睡 zhège fángzi kě gōng sì gè rén shuì
do-it-yourself
自己动(動)手的活计(計) zìjǐ dòngshǒu de huójì
meet up
( by arrangement ) 会(會)面 huìmiàn ⇒ We meet up for lunch once a week. → 我们每周会面一次共进午餐。 Wǒmen měizhōu huìmiàn yī cì gòng jìn wǔcān.
an excess of
过(過)多 guòduō ⇒ Inflation results from an excess of demand over supply. → 通货膨胀是供过于求的结果。 Tōnghuò péngzhàng shì gōng guò yú qiú de jiéguǒ.