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meow

 - 3 dictionary results

me⋅ow

[mee-ou, myou]
–noun
1. the characteristic sound a cat makes.
2. a spiteful or catty remark.
–verb (used without object)
3. to make the sound of a cat.
4. to make a spiteful or catty remark.
Also, miaow, miaou, miaul.


Origin:
1870–75; imit.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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me·ow   (mē-ou')   
n.  
  1. The cry of a cat.

  2. Informal A malicious, spiteful comment.

intr.v.   me·owed, me·ow·ing, me·ows
To make the crying sound of a cat.

[Imitative.]
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

meow 
1873, earlier miaow, also miau (1634), meaw (1632). Of imitative origin, cf. Fr. miaou, Ger. miauen, Pers. maw, Japanese nya nya, Ar. nau-nau. In Chinese, miau means "cat."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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