View synonyms for trill

trill

[ tril ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to sing or play with a vibratory or quavering effect.
Phonetics. to produce (a sound) with a trill.
(of birds, insects, etc.) to sing or utter in a succession of rapidly alternating sounds.

verb (used without object)

to resound vibrantly, or with a rapid succession of sounds, as the voice, song, or laughter.
Synonyms: vibrate, tremble, quaver
to utter or make a sound or succession of sounds resembling such singing, as a bird, frog, grasshopper, or person laughing.
Synonyms: warble, twitter, tweet, sing, peep, chirrup, chirp, cheep
to execute a shake or trill with the voice or on a musical instrument.
Phonetics. to execute a trill, especially with the tongue, as while singing, talking, or whistling.

noun

the act or sound of trilling.
Music. a rapid alternation of two adjacent tones; a shake.
a similar sound, or succession of sounds, uttered or made by a bird, an insect, a person laughing, etc.
Synonyms: song, pipe, peep, chirrup, chirr, chirp, cheep, call, birdsong, twitter, tweet
Phonetics.
1. a sequence of repetitive, rapid, vibratory movements produced in any free articulator or membrane by a rush of air expelled from the lungs and often causing a corresponding sequence of contacts between the vibrating articulator and another organ or surface.
2. a speech sound produced by such a trill.

trill

[ tril ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used without object)

to flow in a thin stream; trickle.

verb (used with object)

to cause to flow in a thin stream.

trill

/ trɪl /

verb

See trickle
an archaic or poetic word for trickle

trill

/ trɪl /

noun

music a melodic ornament consisting of a rapid alternation between a principal note and the note a whole tone or semitone above it Usual symbolwritten above a notetr.tr
a shrill warbling sound, esp as made by some birds
phonetics
1. the articulation of an (r) sound produced by holding the tip of the tongue close to the alveolar ridge, allowing the tongue to make a succession of taps against the ridge
2. the production of a similar effect using the uvula against the back of the tongue

verb

to sound, sing, or play (a trill or with a trill)
tr to pronounce (an (r) sound) by the production of a trill

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Word History and Origins

Origin of trill¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Italian trillo, triglio “quaver or warble in singing,” ultimately from Germanic; compare Dutch trillen “to vibrate,” late Middle English trillen “to shake or rock (something)”

Origin of trill²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English trillen “to make (something) turn, to roll, flow (said of tears, water),” from Old Danish trijlæ “to roll” (said, e.g., of tears and of a wheelbarrow); compare Norwegian trille , Swedish trilla; trill ¹

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Word History and Origins

Origin of trill¹

C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Norwegian trilla to roll; see trill ¹

Origin of trill²

C17: from Italian trillo , from trillare , apparently from Middle Dutch trillen to vibrate

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Example Sentences

The collection included t-shirts featuring street wear brand Been Trill, jeans, and hoodies.

From The Daily Beast

Even assuming full extension of Bush tax cuts, which add their own $5 trillion or so to the deficit, Romney adds another $3 trill.

From The Daily Beast

If it passed the inspection, he would nod contentedly, trill out a gay refrain, and replace it on the easel for further study.

From Project Gutenberg

A trill, or rapid reiteration of two notes comprehending an interval not greater than one whole tone, nor less than a semitone.

From Project Gutenberg

Then from somewhere above him came such a trill of demoniacal laughter as chilled his blood.

From Project Gutenberg

My comrade sings in such a way that I am sure the nightingales outside will cease to trill from pure envy.

From Project Gutenberg

Some singers have this gift; Mme. Melba is one who never had to study a trill, for she was born with a nightingale in her throat.

From Project Gutenberg

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trilithon Trilling

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