From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcluckcluck1 /klʌk/ verb 1 SOUND[intransitive] if a chicken clucks, it makes a short low sound2 [intransitive, transitive]SYMPATHIZEDISAPPROVE to express sympathy or disapproval by saying something, or by making a short low noise with your tongue Edith clucked her tongue impatiently.cluck over/around etc She stood clucking over the baby. —clucking adjective clucking noises→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
cluck• Once could not genetically engineer a duck to make it cluck.• Generally silent, but drakes cluck and squeak during courtship.• Loopy Lil clucked anxiously around like a pigeon.• Jessica clucked her tongue in sympathy when she saw his bruised arm.• He clucks his tongue to make the noise.• The young man clucked, poured himself more champagne, and drank it.cluckcluck2 noun [countable usually singular] 1 SOUNDa low short noise made by chickens2 SYMPATHIZEDISAPPROVEa sound made with your tongue, used to show disapproval or sympathy a disapproving cluck3 → dumb/stupid cluckExamples from the Corpus
cluck• Loretta pushed her hair back from her face with a cluck of impatience.• Mrs. Newman shook her head with a disapproving cluck.• Now Artemis heard something, something feathery shaking itself, and then clucking, in a low, solemn cluck.Origin cluck1 (1400-1500) From the sound 