lilt

[ lilt ]
See synonyms for lilt on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. rhythmic swing or cadence.

  2. a lilting song or tune.

verb (used with or without object)
  1. to sing or play in a light, tripping, or rhythmic manner.

Origin of lilt

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb lilte, lulte “to sound an alarm; lift up (one's voice)”; perhaps akin to Dutch, Low German lul “pipe,” lullen “to lull,” Norwegian lilla “to sing,” of imitative origin

Other words from lilt

  • lilt·ing·ly, adverb
  • lilt·ing·ness, noun

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

How to use lilt in a sentence

  • (He lilts, wagging his head) With my tooraloom tooraloom tooraloom tooraloom.

    Ulysses | James Joyce
  • Isis lilts the corner of her veil, and he who perceives the great mystery beneath is struck with giddiness.

    Amiel's Journal | Henri-Frdric Amiel
  • The clerk of our ship has translated one of Jeromio's lilts, so I'll tip you a bit of sentiment.

    The Buccaneer | Mrs. S. C. Hall
  • But the real Falstaff had probably tags of verse in memory and lilts of song, for Shakespeare repeats this trait.

    The Man Shakespeare | Frank Harris
  • A collection of his best songs was published in 1855, under the title of "Ingleside Lilts."

British Dictionary definitions for lilt

lilt

/ (lɪlt) /


noun
  1. (in music) a jaunty rhythm

  2. a buoyant motion

verb(intr)
  1. (of a melody) to have a lilt

  2. to move in a buoyant manner

Origin of lilt

1
C14 lulten, origin obscure

Derived forms of lilt

  • lilting, adjective

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