Howl
noun, verb ·Common ·Middle school level
Definitions
- 1 The protracted, mournful cry of a dog, wolf or other canid; also of other animals.
"[T]he fox was out on love-adventures, abused his rivals, and uttered scoffing screams and howls."
- 2 a long loud emotional utterance wordnet
- 3 Any similar sound.
"The howl of the wind"
- 4 a loud sustained noise resembling the cry of a hound wordnet
- 5 A prolonged cry of distress or anguish; a wail.
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- 6 the long plaintive cry of a hound or a wolf wordnet
- 1 To utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do.
"Methought a legion of foul fiends / Environ'd me about, and howled in my ears."
- 2 laugh unrestrainedly and heartily wordnet
- 3 To utter a sound expressive of pain or distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail.
"Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand."
- 4 make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles wordnet
- 5 To make a noise resembling the cry of a wild beast.
"They howled with laughter at the prank."
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- 6 emit long loud cries wordnet
- 7 To utter with outcry.
"to howl derision"
- 8 cry loudly, as of animals wordnet
Example
More examples"What Alice, waiting for a reply, was faced with was a sudden howl. It was a resounding noise, sharp as to burst her ear drums, loud as to reach unto the heavens."
Etymology
From Middle English howlen, houlen, from Old English *hūlian, from Proto-West Germanic *hūilōn, from Proto-Germanic *hūwilōną, *hiuwilōną (“to howl”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *kū-, *kew- (“to howl, scream”). Likely of imitative origin. Cognate with Saterland Frisian huulje (“to howl”), Dutch huilen (“to cry”), Romanian a hăuli (“to howl”), Old French ouler, German Low German hulen (“to howl”), German heulen (“to howl”), Danish hyle (“to howl”), Swedish yla (“to scream, yell”), Northern Luri آلٛیر (āłir, “howl”).