gurgle

[ gur-guhl ]
See synonyms for: gurglegurgling on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),gur·gled, gur·gling.
  1. to flow in a broken, irregular, noisy current: The water gurgled from the bottle.

  2. to make a sound as of water doing this (often used of birds or of human beings).

verb (used with object),gur·gled, gur·gling.
  1. to utter or express with a gurgling sound: The baby gurgled her delight.

noun
  1. the act or noise of gurgling.

Origin of gurgle

1
First recorded in 1555–65; compare Dutch, Middle Low German gorgelen, German gurgeln “to gargle”; akin to Latin gurguliō “throat”

Other words for gurgle

Other words from gurgle

  • gur·gling·ly, adverb

Words Nearby gurgle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use gurgle in a sentence

  • She kept her mask up to greet him over the hiss of the grill and the gurgle of fryer oil.

  • Laughing at intervals that low gurgle which sprang from fear, as some wild bird would start up at his approach, he plodded on.

    The Underworld | James C. Welsh
  • The next instant he sank back with a gurgle in his throat and a knife thrust in his side.

    Blazed Trail Stories | Stewart Edward White
  • Elsie jumped up with a little gurgle of joy and ran ahead of her mother to the 25 flower.

    Every Girl's Book | George F. Butler
  • Then there was a loud scream that died in a weltering gurgle.

    Hunters Out of Space | Joseph Everidge Kelleam
  • His eyes closed tight, and there was a funny gurgle in his throat.

    The Planet Strappers | Raymond Zinke Gallun

British Dictionary definitions for gurgle

gurgle

/ (ˈɡɜːɡəl) /


verb(intr)
  1. (of liquids, esp of rivers, streams, etc) to make low bubbling noises when flowing

  2. to utter low throaty bubbling noises, esp as a sign of contentment: the baby gurgled with delight

noun
  1. the act or sound of gurgling

Origin of gurgle

1
C16: perhaps from Vulgar Latin gurgulāre, from Latin gurguliō gullet

Derived forms of gurgle

  • gurgling, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012