Advertisement
Advertisement
whistle
[wis-uhl, hwis-]
verb (used without object)
to make a clear musical sound, a series of such sounds, or a high-pitched, warbling sound by the forcible expulsion of the breath through a small opening formed by contracting the lips, or through the teeth, with the aid of the tongue.
to make such a sound or series of sounds otherwise, as by blowing on some device.
to emit similar sounds from the mouth, as birds do.
(of a device) to produce a similar sound when actuated by steam or the like.
This teakettle whistles when it boils.
to move, go, pass, etc., with a whistling or whizzing sound, as a bullet or the wind.
verb (used with object)
to produce by whistling.
to whistle a tune.
to call, direct, or signal by or as by whistling.
He whistled his dog over.
to send with a whistling or whizzing sound.
noun
an instrument for producing whistling sounds by means of the breath, steam, etc., as a small wooden or tin tube, a pipe, or a similar device with an air chamber containing a small ball that oscillates when air is forced through an opening, producing a high-pitched, warbling tone.
a sound produced by whistling.
a prolonged whistle of astonishment.
a simple fipple flute.
verb phrase
to demand or expect without success.
After promising to pay, he told us we could whistle for our money.
whistle
/ ˈɪə /
verb
to produce (shrill or flutelike musical sounds), as by passing breath through a narrow constriction most easily formed by the pursed lips
he whistled a melody
(tr) to signal, summon, or command by whistling or blowing a whistle
the referee whistled the end of the game
(of a kettle, train, etc) to produce (a shrill sound) caused by the emission of steam through a small aperture
(intr) to move with a whistling sound caused by rapid passage through the air
(of animals, esp birds) to emit (a shrill sound) resembling human whistling
to try to keep up one's confidence in spite of fear
noun
a device for making a shrill high-pitched sound by means of air or steam under pressure
a shrill sound effected by whistling
a whistling sound, as of a bird, bullet, the wind, etc
a signal, warning, command, etc, transmitted by or as if by a whistle
the act of whistling
music any pipe that is blown down its end and produces sounds on the principle of a flue pipe, usually having as a mouthpiece a fipple cut in the side
informalto take an alcoholic drink
informal(usually foll by on)
to inform (on)
to bring a stop (to)
Other Word Forms
- whistleable adjective
- interwhistle verb (used with object)
- unwhistled adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of whistle1
Idioms and Phrases
whistle in the dark, to attempt to summon up one's courage or optimism in a difficult situation.
He says his business will improve next year, but he's probably just whistling in the dark.
wet one's whistle, to take a drink.
whistle past the graveyard. whistle past the graveyard.
blow the whistle on,
to bring a stop to; halt.
Congress has blown the whistle on all unnecessary expenditures for the program.
to expose (wrongdoing or wrongdoers).
to blow the whistle on corruption in high places.
blow the whistle, to expose the existence of mischief or wrongdoing.
The agent was taking bribes until someone finally blew the whistle.
Example Sentences
Asked after the final whistle whether he felt for Auckland, Michael Olise simply replied: "No."
The first ended in another poor Le Roux kick and the second was a forward pass from Goosens right on the whistle.
The sound of fury was heard when Cheikh Sabaly killed England off with Senegal's late third, the anger rising again when the final whistle went moments later.
He didn't invent electric cars, he just created one that has bells and whistles people like.
And they were here, the notion that the youngest team in the Champions League might falter against the oldest was exploded from the first whistle.
Advertisement
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse