meaning of whistle
1. To make a kind of musical sound, or series of sounds, by forcing the breath through a small orifice formed by contracting the lips; also, to emit a similar sound, or series of notes, from the mouth or beak, as birds.
2. To make a shrill sound with a wind or steam instrument, somewhat like that made with the lips; to blow a sharp, shrill tone.
3. To sound shrill, or like a pipe; to make a sharp, shrill sound; as, a bullet whistles through the air.
4. To form, utter, or modulate by whistling; as, to whistle a tune or an air.
5. To send, signal, or call by a whistle.
6. A sharp, shrill, more or less musical sound, made by forcing the breath through a small orifice of the lips, or through or instrument which gives a similar sound; the sound used by a sportsman in calling his dogs; the shrill note of a bird; as, the sharp whistle of a boy, or of a boatswains pipe; the blackbirds mellow whistle.
7. The shrill sound made by wind passing among trees or through crevices, or that made by bullet, or the like, passing rapidly through the air; the shrill noise (much used as a signal, etc. ) made by steam or gas escaping through a small orifice, or impinging against the edge of a metallic bell or cup.
8. An instrument in which gas or steam forced into a cavity, or against a thin edge, produces a sound more or less like that made by one who whistles through the compressed lips; as, a childs whistle; a boatswains whistle; a steam whistle (see Steam whistle, under Steam).
9. The mouth and throat; -- so called as being the organs of whistling.
10. an inexpensive fipple flute
Related Words
whistle | whistle blower | whistle buoy | whistle stop | whistle-blower | whistle-stop tour | whistleblower | whistled | whistlefish | whistler | whistlestop | whistlewing | whistlewood |
