English Dictionary

Definition of “howl”

howl (haʊl Pronunciation for howl

Definitions

noun

  1. a long plaintive cry or wail characteristic of a wolf or hound
  2. a similar cry of pain or sorrow
  3. (slang)
    1. a person or thing that is very funny
    2. a prolonged outburst of laughter
  4. (electronics) an unwanted prolonged high-pitched sound produced by a sound-producing system as a result of feedback

verb

  1. to express in a howl or utter such cries
  2. intr (of the wind, etc) to make a wailing noise
  3. intr (informal) to shout or laugh

Word Origin

C14: houlen; related to Middle High German hiuweln, Middle Dutch hūlen, Danish hyle

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= cry, shout, bell, scream, roar, weep, yell, lament, cry out, wail, shriek, bellow, bawl, yelp, ululate
= baying, cry, bay, bark, barking, yelp, yelping, yowl
= cry, scream, roar, bay, bell, wail, outcry, shriek, bellow, clamour, hoot, bawl, yelp, yowl, ululation

Translations for 'howl'

  • British English: howlPronunciation for howl If an animal such as a wolf or a dog howls, it makes a long, loud, crying sound.Somewhere in the streets beyond a dog suddenly howled, baying at the moon.haʊl VERB
  • Arabic: يَعْوِيPronunciation for يَعْوِي
  • Brazilian Portuguese: uivarPronunciation for uivar
  • Chinese: 嚎叫Pronunciation for 嚎叫
  • Croatian: zavijatiPronunciation for zavijati
  • Czech: výtPronunciation for výt zavýt
  • Danish: hylePronunciation for hyle
  • Dutch: huilenPronunciation for huilen
  • European Spanish: aullarPronunciation for aullar
  • Finnish: ulvoaPronunciation for ulvoa
  • French: hurlerPronunciation for hurlerloup
  • German: heulenPronunciation for heulenTierlaut
  • Greek: ουρλιάζωPronunciation for ουρλιάζω
  • Italian: ulularePronunciation for ululare
  • Japanese: 遠吠えするPronunciation for 遠吠えする
  • Korean: 짖다Pronunciation for 짖다
  • Norwegian: ulePronunciation for ule
  • Polish: zawyćPronunciation for zawyć wyć
  • Portuguese: uivarPronunciation for uivar
  • Romanian: a urla
  • Russian: вытьPronunciation for выть
  • Spanish: aullarPronunciation for aullar
  • Swedish: ylaPronunciation for yla
  • Thai: ร้องโหยหวนPronunciation for ร้องโหยหวน
  • Turkish: ulumakPronunciation for ulumak
  • Ukrainian: вити
  • Vietnamese: Pronunciation for hú

Example Sentences Including 'howl'

A moment later the howl was taken up by many dessicated, decaying throats.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
Almost nightly the dogs would howl in unison at uninvited visitors.
David Lewis SHAPES ON THE WIND (2001)
And because he is well-mannered, he accepts the deprivation without a howl.
India Today (2001)
But there are days now when, reading my newspaper, I want to howl with rage.
Misc (1999)
HOLLYWOOD, IT'S generally agreed, used to do romantic comedies well and critics tend to howl when an old gem gets re-made.
Independent (1999)
The noise was variable, from a dull moan to a piercing howl in seconds.
Lunnon-Wood, Mike Let Not the Deep
The ragged figure coughed, a long gravelly howl which silenced the roars of the last lorries passing us.
Gash, Jonathan The Tartan Ringers
The typhoon raged for 11 hours before moving towards China, but people were urged to stay at home as winds continued to howl.
Sun, News of the World (1999)
You gasp, whoop, howl in frustration (or intentionally call out) and in-game characters will hear you.
canada.com (2004)

Comments

Comment byaki.uchida on 14 Oct 2012
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