howl·ing

[hou-ling]
adjective
1.
producing or uttering a howling noise: a howling mob.
2.
desolate, dismal, or dreary: a howling wilderness.
3.
Informal. very great; tremendous: a howling success.

Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English houlinge (gerund); see howl, -ing2

howl·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged

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.
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

out·howl, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To howling
00:10
Howling is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
Collins
World English Dictionary
howl (haʊl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
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]

howling (ˈhaʊlɪŋ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
informal (prenominal) (intensifier): a howling success; a howling error
 
'howlingly
 
adv

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.
Cite This Source

howling (drunk) definition


  1. mod.
    alcohol intoxicated; loudly drunk. : Willy got howling drunk and ran in the streets with his coat off.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
We may thus seem to be landed in a howling wilderness of scientific uncertainty.
We woke up the morning after the rains to howling offshore winds.
Persistent, unprovoked howling or barking is a violation.
Even sailors who didn't run aground here told tales of the howling winds and birds.
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