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howl

 [houl]   Example Sentences Origin

howl

   [houl]
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 followed by down): to howl down the opposition.

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Howl is one of our favorite verbs.
So is skedaddle. Does it mean:
to bark; yelp.
to run away hurriedly; flee.
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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; Middle English hulen, houlen (v.); cognate with Dutch huilen, Low German hülen, German heulen, Danish hyle; akin to Old Norse ȳla

Related forms
out·howl, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To howl
Example Sentences
  • Predators howl and snarl in the surrounding darkness.
  • Look at all the discrimination directed against us, they howl.
  • Here one may howl over the show without any uneasy reminder that it is serious, and that some one may be hurt.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
howl (haʊl)
 
—n
1.  a long plaintive cry or wail characteristic of a wolf or hound
2.  a similar cry of pain or sorrow
3.  slang
 a.  a person or thing that is very funny
 b.  a prolonged outburst of laughter
4.  electronics an unwanted prolonged high-pitched sound produced by a sound-producing system as a result of feedback
 
—vb
5.  to express in a howl or utter such cries
6.  (intr) (of the wind, etc) to make a wailing noise
7.  informal (intr) to shout or laugh
 
[C14: houlen; related to Middle High German hiuweln, Middle Dutch hūlen, Danish hyle]

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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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

howl
c.1220, houlen, probably of imitative origin. Howler "glaring blunder, ridiculous mistake" is first recorded 1890.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary

howl definition


  1. n.
    something funny. : What a howl the surprise party turned out to be when the guest of honor didn't show up.
  2. in.
    to laugh very hard. : Everybody howled at my mistake.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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