whistle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture
    whistling.
  2. noun the act of signalling (e.g., summoning) by whistling or blowing a whistle
    whistling.
    • the whistle signalled the end of the game
  3. noun a small wind instrument that produces a whistling sound by blowing into it
  4. noun acoustic device that forces air or steam against an edge or into a cavity and so produces a loud shrill sound
  5. noun an inexpensive fipple flute
    tin whistle; pennywhistle.
  6. verb make whistling sounds
    • He lay there, snoring and whistling
  7. verb move with, or as with, a whistling sound
    • The bullets whistled past him
  8. verb utter or express by whistling
    • She whistled a melody
  9. verb move, send, or bring as if by whistling
    • Her optimism whistled away these worries
  10. verb make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound
    sing.
    • the kettle was singing
    • the bullet sang past his ear
  11. verb give a signal by whistling
    • She whistled for her maid

WordNet

Whis"tle intransitive verb
Etymology
AS. hwistlian; akin to Sw. hvissla, Dan. hvisle, Icel. hvisla to whisper, and E. whisper. . See Whisper.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Whistled ; present participle & verbal noun Whistling
Definitions
  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.
    The weary plowman leaves the task of day, And, trudging homeward, whistles on the way. Gay.
  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.
    The wild winds whistle, and the billows roar. Pope.
Whis"tle transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To form, utter, or modulate by whistling; as, to whistle a tune or an air.
  2. To send, signal, or call by a whistle.
    He chanced to miss his dog; we stood still till he had whistled him up. Addison.
    I 'ld whistle her off, and let her down the wind To prey at fortune. Shak.
    ✍ "A hawk seems to have been usually sent off in this way, against the wind when sent in search of prey; with or down the wind, when turned loose, and abandoned." Nares.
Whis"tle noun
Etymology
AS. hwistle a pipe, flute, whistle. See Whistle, v. i.
Definitions
  1. 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 boatswain's pipe; the blackbird's mellow whistle.
    Might we but hear The folded flocks, penned in their wattled cotes, . . . Or whistle from the lodge. Milton.
    The countryman could not forbear smiling, . . . and by that means lost his whistle. Spectator.
    They fear his whistle, and forsake the seas. Dryden.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 child's whistle; a boatswain's whistle; a steam whistle (see Steam whistle, under Steam).
    The bells she jingled, and the whistle blew. Pope.
  4. The mouth and throat; -- so called as being the organs of whistling. Colloq.
    So was her jolly whistle well ywet. Chaucer.
    Let's drink the other cup to wet our whistles. Walton.

Webster 1913