• rustle: make a sound like the one that leaves or sheets of paper make when they move.
  The leaves on the branch rustled in the wind.
• clink: make a short high sound, like glass or metal objects hitting each other.
  As she carried the tray, the glasses clinked.
• chink: make a high ringing sound, like glass or metal objects hitting each other. It also refers to the noise of coins.
  They chinked their glasses and drank a toast to the couple.
• clang: make a loud, long, ringing noise like a metal hitting another metal object.
  The door clanged shut and the elevator went up.
• toll: make a slow ringing sound, like large bells in a church.
  Bells tolled when the Pope died.
• chime: make a ringing sound, like small bells or a clock that tells what time it is.
  The clock in the living-room chimed five.
• tinkle: make a light ringing sound, like very small bells or metal objects.
  A tinkling bell meant that the butler had to go immediately.
• bang: make a loud noise, when hitting something hard.
  I banged on the window to get her attention.
• crunch: make a noise like something being crushed.
  As we walked up to the house, leaves crunched under our feet.
• crack: make a short sudden loud noise, like a small explosion.
  We could hear the thunder cracking above us.
• crash: make a sudden loud noise, like something being hit.
  The thunder crashed and boomed outside.
• screech: make a loud, unpleasant, high noise, squeal.
  Brakes screeched and then we heard  a crash.
• roar: make a continuous loud noise.
  The helicopter roared above them.
• drone: make a continuous low dull sound.
  An airplane droned overhead.
• thud: hit something with a loud noise.
  Waves thudded against the side of the ship.
• clatter: make a loud unpleasant noise, when hard objects are hit.
  The tray slipped and clattered to the floor.
• scrape: make a rough unpleasant noise by rubbing against a hard surface.
  Chairs scraped loudly when we stood up.
• creak: make a long high noise, like a wooden floor when somebody walks on it.
  The stair creaked as she walked up.
  The door creaked open.
• squeak: make a short high noise.
  The shoes squeaked on the tiled floor.
• knock: make a sound when hitting with the knuckles.
  Someone is knocking at the door.
• patter: make short quiet sounds by hitting a surface.
  Rain pattered against the windows.
• buzz: make a rough continuous sound, like a bee or a fly.
  We could hear saws buzzing in the wood.
• honk: make a loud noise using a horn.
  The drivers honked his horn but the demonstrators didn't move.
• hoot: make a loud noise with the horn on a car. In the UK the device is called 'a hooter', in the US it's a horn.
  The car behind was hooting at us.
• twang: make a ringing sound by being pulled and suddenly let go.
  He twanged the guitar strings.
• boom: make a loud deep noise, as when a bomb goes off.
  Bombs boomed all around the campground.
• bonk: make a sudden short deep sound, like a wooden spoon being hit against a wall or the floor.
• whine: make a long high sound because you are in pain or unhappy.
  The dog was really sad; it whined all night.
• whimper: make low crying sounds.
  She heard the dog whimper all night.
• hum: make musical sounds with your lips closed.
  If you don't know the tune, you can just hum the tune.
• whistle: make a high musical sound by forcing out air through puckered lips.
  She whistled a tune as she cleaned the kitchen.
• hiss: make a long "s" sound, like a snake.
  The tires hissed on the wet road.
  The audience began to hiss and boo.
• sniff: breathe air into your nose nosily.
  Stop sniffing and blow your nose.
• snort: make noise by breathing air out through the nose, to show that you are annoyed or amused.
  Paul snorted with laughter.
• gasp: breathe in suddenly in a way that can be heard.
  The audience gasped in surprise.
• whoop: shout loudly and happily.
  The players ran around the field, whooping happily.
• chant: recite or sing in a flat way or using only one tone.
  That priest usually chants the liturgy.
• boo: make a noise to show dissatisfaction.
  The audience started booing and he left the stage.
• moan: make a long low noise to show pain or unhappiness.
  He moaned and cried in pain.
• cheer: shout to show happiness, approval or support.
  The audience cheered when the team appeared.
• clap: make a short sharp noise by hitting the hands against each other, to show approval or enjoyment.
  The audience began to clap as the actors appeared.
• plop: make a sound like dropping into water.
  The frog plopped into the pond.
• sizzle: make a sound like bacon being fried in a pan.
  The sausages started to sizzle in the pan.
• swish: make a soft sound by moving something quickly through the air.
  Her ball-gown swished as she walked.
• blare: make a loud unpleasant noise.
  We could hear horns blaring outside.
• rumble: make a series of short low sounds.
  We could hear thunder rumbling.
• squelch: make a sucking sound, like walking in mud.
  Her shoes squelched as she walked in the mud.
• rattle: make a series of short sounds, like small objects hitting each other.
  The bottles rattled as he carried the crates.
• click: make a short hard sound, to show disapproval or when using the computer mouse.
  His mother clicked her tongue and shut the door.
• chirp / chirrup (GB): make short high sound, like small birds make in the morning.
  We woke up and heard the birds chirp.
• putter (GB): make a low sound, like a car with a low revolution engine or a motor boat.
  The old car puttered by.
• cluck: make a short low sound, like chickens do.
  We could hear the chickens clucking around.
• bleep: make a high electronic sound, like a pager, a mobile phone or a timer.
  The timer began to bleep indicating that the eggs were cooked.
• crackle: make short sounds, like something burning in a fire.
  The logs crackled on the fire.
• gurgle: make a low sound, like water flowing.
  He could hear the river gurgling down in the forest.
• whoosh: a soft sound made by something moving fast through the air, or made when air is pushed out of something.
  The train sped through the station with a whoosh.

We thank Alicia Mansilla (from Buenos Aires, Argentina), Francis Dixon-Clarke (from Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Natalia Nicola (from Mar del Plata, Argentina) for their contribution.

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