bleat
Use Bleat in a sentence
verb (used without object)
1.
to utter the cry of a sheep, goat, or calf or a sound resembling such a cry.
verb (used with object)
2.
to give forth with or as if with a bleat: He bleated his objections in a helpless rage.
3.
to babble; prate.
noun
4.
the cry of a sheep, goat, or calf.
5.
any similar sound: the bleat of distant horns.
6.
foolish, complaining talk; babble: I listened to their inane bleat all evening.
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English bleten, Old English blǣtan; cognate with Dutch blaten, Old High German blāzen; akin to Latin flēre to weep
before 1000; Middle English bleten, Old English blǣtan; cognate with Dutch blaten, Old High German blāzen; akin to Latin flēre to weep
Related forms
bleat·er, noun
bleat·ing·ly, adverb
out·bleat, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To bleat
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Bleat
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is subtilize. Does it mean:
| to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about. |
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
bleat (bliːt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | (intr) (of a sheep, goat, or calf) to utter its characteristic plaintive cry |
| 2. | (intr) to speak with any similar sound |
| 3. | to whine; whimper |
| —n | |
| 4. | the characteristic cry of sheep, goats, and young calves |
| 5. | any sound similar to this |
| 6. | a weak complaint or whine |
| [Old English blǣtan; related to Old High German blāzen, Dutch blaten, Latin flēre to weep; see | |
| 'bleater | |
| —n | |
| 'bleating | |
| —n, —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
bleat
O.E. blætan, common W.Gmc., of imitative origin (cf. Gk. blekhe, O.C.S. blejat).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Their call is described as a nasal w-a-a-a-a-a-h, similar to the bleat of a sheep, that lasts about one to two and a half seconds.
It then began to register all over the place, from a gruff and husky whisper to a papery, plaintive bleat.
We listened with interest to their cry, which was a kind of creaking bleat.
The manner is a little heavy and the voice turns to a metallic bleat on its top notes.
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