Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries

howl

- 6 dictionary results

howl

  [houl]
Use howl in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to utter a loud, prolonged, mournful cry, as that of a dog or wolf.
2. to utter a similar cry in distress, pain, rage, etc.; wail.
3. to make a sound like an animal howling: The wind howls through the trees.
4. Informal. to go on a spree; enjoy oneself without restraint.
–verb (used with object)
5. to utter with howls: to howl the bad news.
6. to drive or force by howls (often fol. by down): to howl down the opposition.
–noun
7. the cry of a dog, wolf, etc.
8. a cry or wail, as of pain, rage, or protest.
9. a sound like wailing: the howl of the wind.
10. a loud, scornful laugh or yell.
11. something that causes a laugh or a scornful yell, as a joke or funny or embarrassing situation.
Origin:
1300–50; ME hulen, houlen (v.); c. D huilen, LG hülen, G heulen, Dan hyle; akin to ON ȳla
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To howl
howl   (houl)   
v.   howled, howl·ing, howls

v.   intr.
  1. To utter or emit a long, mournful, plaintive sound.
  2. To cry or wail loudly, as in pain, sorrow, or anger.
  3. Slang To laugh heartily.
  4. Slang To go on a spree.
v.   tr.
To express or utter with a howl. See Synonyms at shout.
n.  
  1. A long wailing cry.
  2. A loud derisive call: the howls of an angry mob.
  3. Slang Something uproariously funny or absurd.
Phrasal Verb(s):
howl downTo drown out or silence by loud derisive calls: The candidate was howled down at the town meeting.

[Middle English houlen.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Howl

Howl\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Howled; p. pr. & vb. n. Howling.] [OE. houlen, hulen; akin to D. huilen, MHG. hiulen, hiuweln, OHG. hiuwil[=o]n to exult, h?wo owl, Dan. hyle to howl.]

1. To utter a loud, protraced, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do.

And dogs in corners set them down to howl. --Drayton.

Methought a legion of foul fiends Environ'd me about, and howled in my ears. --Shak.

2. To utter a sound expressive of distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail.

Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand. --Is. xiii. 6.

3. To make a noise resembling the cry of a wild beast.

Wild howled the wind. --Sir W. Scott.

Howling monkey. (Zo["o]l.) See Howler, 2.

Howling wilderness, a wild, desolate place inhabited only by wild beasts. --Deut. xxxii. 10.

Howl

Howl\, v. t. To utter with outcry. "Go . . . howl it out in deserts." --Philips.

Howl

Howl\, n. 1. The protracted, mournful cry of a dog or a wolf, or other like sound.

2. A prolonged cry of distress or anguish; a wail.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : howl
Spanish: aullar (animal); dar alaridos (persona),
German: heulen,
Japanese: ほえる
More Translations »

howl  (v.)
c.1220, houlen, probably of imitative origin. Howler "glaring blunder, ridiculous mistake" is first recorded 1890.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see howl on Thesaurus | Reference