whistle
Noun · VerbWordNet 3.0
Noun (5)
- the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small apertureSynonyms: whistling
- the act of signalling (e.g., summoning) by whistling or blowing a whistle“the whistle signalled the end of the game”Synonyms: whistling
- a small wind instrument that produces a whistling sound by blowing into it
- acoustic device that forces air or steam against an edge or into a cavity and so produces a loud shrill sound
- an inexpensive fipple fluteSynonyms: pennywhistletin whistle
Verb (6)
- make whistling sounds“He lay there, snoring and whistling”
- move with, or as with, a whistling sound“The bullets whistled past him”
- utter or express by whistling“She whistled a melody”
- move, send, or bring as if by whistling“Her optimism whistled away these worries”
- make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound“the kettle was singing”“the bullet sang past his ear”Synonyms: sing
- give a signal by whistling“She whistled for her maid”
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
1.To form, utter, or modulate by whistling; as, to whistle a tune or an air. [1913 Webster]
2.To send, signal, or call by a whistle. [1913 Webster]
He chanced to miss his dog; we stood still till he had whistled him up.— Addison.[1913 Webster]
To whistle off. (a) To dismiss by a whistle; -- a term in hawking. "AS a long-winged hawk when he is first whistled off the fist, mounts aloft." --Burton. (b) Hence, in general, to turn loose; to abandon; to dismiss. [1913 Webster]
I 'ld whistle her off, and let her down the wind To prey at fortune.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
Note: "A hawk seems to have been usually sent off in this way, against the wind when sent in search of prey; with or down the wind, when turned loose, and abandoned." --Nares. [1913 Webster]
1.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. [1913 Webster]
The weary plowman leaves the task of day, And, trudging homeward, whistles on the way.— Gay.[1913 Webster]
2.To make a shrill sound with a wind or steam instrument, somewhat like that made with the lips; to blow a sharp, shrill tone. [1913 Webster]
3.To sound shrill, or like a pipe; to make a sharp, shrill sound; as, a bullet whistles through the air. [1913 Webster]
The wild winds whistle, and the billows roar.— Pope.[1913 Webster]
1.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. [1913 Webster]
Might we but hear The folded flocks, penned in their wattled cotes, . . . Or whistle from the lodge.— Milton.[1913 Webster]
The countryman could not forbear smiling, . . . and by that means lost his whistle.— Spectator.[1913 Webster]
They fear his whistle, and forsake the seas.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]
2.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. [1913 Webster]
3.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). [1913 Webster]
The bells she jingled, and the whistle blew.— Pope.[1913 Webster]
4.The mouth and throat; -- so called as being the organs of whistling. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]
So was her jolly whistle well ywet.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]
Let's drink the other cup to wet our whistles.— Walton.[1913 Webster]
Whistle duck (Zool.), the American golden-eye. [1913 Webster]