whistling
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Related to whistling: Whistling Dixie
whis·tle
(wĭs′əl, hwĭs′-)v. whis·tled, whis·tling, whis·tles
v.intr.
1. To produce a clear musical sound by forcing air through the teeth or through an aperture formed by pursing the lips.
2. To produce a clear, shrill, sharp musical sound by passing air over or through an opening: The tea kettle whistled on the stove.
3.
a. To produce a high-pitched sound when moving swiftly through the air: The stone whistled past my head.
b. To produce a high-pitched sound by the rapid movement of air through an opening or past an obstruction: Wind whistled through the cracks in the windows.
4. To emit a shrill, sharp, high-pitched cry, as some birds and other animals.
v.tr.
1. To produce by whistling: whistle a tune.
2. To summon, signal, or direct by whistling: I whistled down a cab. The referee whistled that the play was dead.
3. Sports To signal a rule infraction committed by (a player).
n.
Idioms: 1.
a. A small wind instrument for making whistling sounds by means of the breath.
b. A device for making whistling sounds by means of forced air or steam: a factory whistle.
2. A sound produced by a whistling device or by whistling through the lips.
3. A whistling sound, as of an animal or projectile.
blow the whistle Slang
To expose a wrongdoing in the hope of bringing it to a halt: an attorney who blew the whistle on governmental corruption.
whistle in the dark
To attempt to keep one's courage up.
[Middle English whistlen, from Old English hwistlian.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
whistling
(ˈwɪslɪŋ)n
(Veterinary Science) vet science a breathing defect of horses characterized by a high-pitched sound with each intake of air. Compare roaring6
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
whis•tling
(ˈʰwɪs lɪŋ, ˈwɪs-)n.
1. the act of a person or thing that whistles.
2. the sound produced.
[before 900]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. |  whistling - the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperturesound - the sudden occurrence of an audible event; "the sound awakened them" |
| 2. |  whistling - the act of whistling a tune; "his cheerful whistling indicated that he enjoyed his work"music - musical activity (singing or whistling etc.); "his music was his central interest" | |
| 3. |  whistling - the act of signalling (e.g., summoning) by whistling or blowing a whistle; "the whistle signalled the end of the game" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
whistling
n → Pfeifen nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007