Word info Synonyms Antonyms

whistle

Speech parts

1. whistle - Noun

2. whistle - Verb

Meaning

To make a kind of musical sound, or series of sounds, by forcing the breath through a small orifice formed by contracting the lips; also, to emit a similar sound, or series of notes, from the mouth or beak, as birds.

To make a shrill sound with a wind or steam instrument, somewhat like that made with the lips; to blow a sharp, shrill tone.

To sound shrill, or like a pipe; to make a sharp, shrill sound; as, a bullet whistles through the air.

To form, utter, or modulate by whistling; as, to whistle a tune or an air.

To send, signal, or call by a whistle.

A sharp, shrill, more or less musical sound, made by forcing the breath through a small orifice of the lips, or through or instrument which gives a similar sound; the sound used by a sportsman in calling his dogs; the shrill note of a bird; as, the sharp whistle of a boy, or of a boatswain's pipe; the blackbird's mellow whistle.

The shrill sound made by wind passing among trees or through crevices, or that made by bullet, or the like, passing rapidly through the air; the shrill noise (much used as a signal, etc.) made by steam or gas escaping through a small orifice, or impinging against the edge of a metallic bell or cup.

An instrument in which gas or steam forced into a cavity, or against a thin edge, produces a sound more or less like that made by one who whistles through the compressed lips; as, a child's whistle; a boatswain's whistle; a steam whistle (see Steam whistle, under Steam).

The mouth and throat; -- so called as being the organs of whistling.

Source: Webster's dictionary

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Examples

Four hoarse blasts of a ship's whistle still raise the hair on my neck and set my feet to tapping. John Steinbeck

He cast off his friends as a huntsman his pack, For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back. Oliver Goldsmith

It's a pity we don't whistle at one another, like birds. Words are misleading. Halldór Laxness

If you beat my drum, I will blow your whistle. Lebanese Proverb

One cannot drink and whistle at the same time. Italian Proverb

If you can't distinguish how to whistle a festival alarm from a warning alarm, then better not alarm and let s/he who knows the difference to do the alarming. African Proverb

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