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 (UK): make short high sound, like small birds make in the morning.
We woke up and heard the birds chirp.

putter (UK): 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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