ululate

[ uhl-yuh-leyt, yool- ]
See synonyms for: ululateululation on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),ul·u·lat·ed, ul·u·lat·ing.
  1. to howl, as a coyote or wolf, or to hoot, as an owl.

  2. to utter a loud, long, high-pitched, trilling sound that resembles a howl, especially to express grief or joy: the Middle Eastern custom of ululating at weddings and funerals.

  1. to lament loudly and shrilly.

Origin of ululate

1
First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin ululātus, past participle of ululāre “to howl, shriek,” of imitative origin; akin to Greek hylân, ololýzein “to howl, wail,” Sanskrit ululí- “howling”; see -ate1

Other words from ululate

  • ul·u·la·tion [uhl-yuh-ley-shuhn, yool-], /ˌʌl yəˈleɪ ʃən, ˌyul-/, noun

Words Nearby ululate

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

British Dictionary definitions for ululate

ululate

/ (ˈjuːljʊˌleɪt) /


verb
  1. (intr) to howl or wail, as with grief

Origin of ululate

1
C17: from Latin ululāre to howl, from ulula screech owl

Derived forms of ululate

  • ululant, adjective
  • ululation, noun

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