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bleats

 - 3 dictionary results

bleat

  [bleet]
Use bleats 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:
bef. 1000; ME bleten, OE blǣtan; c. D blaten, OHG blāzen; akin to L flēre to weep

Related forms:
bleater, noun
bleat⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To bleats
bleat   (blēt)   
n.  

    1. The characteristic cry of a goat or sheep.

    2. A sound similar to this cry.

  2. A whining, feeble complaint.

v.   bleat·ed, bleat·ing, bleats

v.   intr.

  1. To utter the characteristic cry of a goat or sheep.

  2. To utter a sound similar to this cry, especially a whine.

v.   tr.
To utter in a whining way.

[Middle English blet, from bleten, to bleat, from Old English blǣtan.]
bleat'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

bleat 
O.E. blætan, common W.Gmc., of imitative origin (cf. Gk. blekhe, O.C.S. blejat).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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