gong
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
A gong is a flat, circular metal disc suspended from a frame and struck with a padded mallet to produce a deep, resonant sound. A bell is cup-shaped rather than flat, and its sound comes from being struck internally by a clapper or externally by a hammer; bells typically produce a clearer, higher-pitched ring. A cymbal is a thin brass disc, usually played in pairs by crashing them together or struck singly with a drumstick, creating a loud, sustained crash with no definite pitch. A tam-tam is a specific type of large, unpitched gong used in Western orchestras; unlike a tuned gong that has a discernible pitch, a tam-tam produces a complex, explosive wash of sound. In everyday use, 'gong' covers both tuned and untuned instruments, while 'tam-tam' refers only to the untuned orchestral variety. For example, a Buddhist temple uses a tuned gong for meditation signals, whereas a symphony orchestra may use a tam-tam for dramatic effect in pieces by composers like Tchaikovsky or Bartók.
Common collocations
Nouns
- gong player
- gong sound
- dinner gong
- gong mallet
- gong stand
Phrases
- sound a gong
- strike a gong
- beat a gong
- ring a gong
Prepositions
- with a mallet
- on a frame
Etymology
The word 'gong' entered English in the early 17th century from Malay 'gong' or 'gung', which referred to the percussion instrument used in Southeast Asian courts and ceremonies. Portuguese explorers and traders encountered the instrument during their voyages in the region and brought both the object and its name to Europe. The informal British sense of 'gong' meaning an award or medal emerged in the early 20th century, originally as military slang — the idea being that medals, like gongs, are struck (stamped) from metal and make a clinking sound when worn together.