Peal: meaning, definitions and examples

Best used to describe the loud and resonant sound of bells, usually in a series or in celebration.

• The peal of wedding bells could be heard throughout the town.
• A peal of laughter erupted from the crowd.

Used to describe the clear, resonant sound made by a bell or similar instrument, often singular or short in duration.

• The telephone began to ring.
• Her laughter had a joyful ring to it.

Used when describing the harmonious or pleasant sound of bells or small metal objects, often in a repetitive pattern.

• The church bells chime every hour.
• The wind chime sang gently in the breeze.

Used for the slow, solemn, and repeated sound of a bell, often associated with funerals or marking the passage of time.

• The funeral bells began to toll.
• The church clock tolled midnight.

Appropriate for describing a loud, harsh, and metallic sound, often with a negative connotation.

• The gate shut with a clang.
• She dropped the pot, and it hit the floor with a loud clang.