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whining - 2 dictionary results

whine

  [hwahyn, wahyn] verb, whined, whin⋅ing, noun
Use whining in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to utter a low, usually nasal, complaining cry or sound, as from uneasiness, discontent, peevishness, etc.: The puppies were whining from hunger.
2. to snivel or complain in a peevish, self-pitying way: He is always whining about his problems.
–verb (used with object)
3. to utter with or as if with a whine: I whined my litany of complaints.
–noun
4. a whining utterance, sound, or tone.
5. a feeble, peevish complaint.
Origin:
bef. 1150; ME whinen (v.), OE hwīnan to whiz; c. ON hvīna

Related forms:
whiner, noun
whin⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. moan, whimper. 2. See complain.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To whining
whine   (hwīn, wīn)   
v.   whined, whin·ing, whines

v.   intr.
  1. To utter a plaintive, high-pitched, protracted sound, as in pain, fear, supplication, or complaint.
  2. To complain or protest in a childish fashion.
  3. To produce a sustained noise of relatively high pitch: jet engines whining.
v.   tr.
To utter with a whine.
n.  
  1. The act of whining.
  2. A whining sound.
  3. A complaint uttered in a plaintive tone.

[Middle English whinen, from Old English hwīnan, to make a whizzing sound.]
whin'er n., whin'ing·ly adv., whin'y, whin'ey adj.
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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