whistle
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Related to whistled: whistler
whis·tle
(wĭs′əl, hwĭs′-)v. whis·tled, whis·tling, whis·tles
v.intr.
1. To produce a clear musical sound by forcing air through the teeth or through an aperture formed by pursing the lips.
2. To produce a clear, shrill, sharp musical sound by passing air over or through an opening: The tea kettle whistled on the stove.
3.
a. To produce a high-pitched sound when moving swiftly through the air: The stone whistled past my head.
b. To produce a high-pitched sound by the rapid movement of air through an opening or past an obstruction: Wind whistled through the cracks in the windows.
4. To emit a shrill, sharp, high-pitched cry, as some birds and other animals.
v.tr.
1. To produce by whistling: whistle a tune.
2. To summon, signal, or direct by whistling: I whistled down a cab. The referee whistled that the play was dead.
3. Sports To signal a rule infraction committed by (a player).
n.
Idioms: 1.
a. A small wind instrument for making whistling sounds by means of the breath.
b. A device for making whistling sounds by means of forced air or steam: a factory whistle.
2. A sound produced by a whistling device or by whistling through the lips.
3. A whistling sound, as of an animal or projectile.
blow the whistle Slang
To expose a wrongdoing in the hope of bringing it to a halt: an attorney who blew the whistle on governmental corruption.
whistle in the dark
To attempt to keep one's courage up.
[Middle English whistlen, from Old English hwistlian.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
whistle
(ˈwɪsəl)vb
1. (Phonetics & Phonology) to produce (shrill or flutelike musical sounds), as by passing breath through a narrow constriction most easily formed by the pursed lips: he whistled a melody.
2. (tr) to signal, summon, or command by whistling or blowing a whistle: the referee whistled the end of the game.
3. (General Engineering) (of a kettle, train, etc) to produce (a shrill sound) caused by the emission of steam through a small aperture
4. (intr) to move with a whistling sound caused by rapid passage through the air
5. (Zoology) (of animals, esp birds) to emit (a shrill sound) resembling human whistling
6. whistle in the dark to try to keep up one's confidence in spite of fear
n
7. (Tools) a device for making a shrill high-pitched sound by means of air or steam under pressure
8. a shrill sound effected by whistling
9. a whistling sound, as of a bird, bullet, the wind, etc
10. a signal, warning, command, etc, transmitted by or as if by a whistle
11. the act of whistling
12. (Instruments) music any pipe that is blown down its end and produces sounds on the principle of a flue pipe, usually having as a mouthpiece a fipple cut in the side
13. (Brewing) wet one's whistle informal to take an alcoholic drink
14. blow the whistle (usually foll by on) informal
a. to inform (on)
b. to bring a stop (to)
[Old English hwistlian; related to Old Norse hvīsla]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
whis•tle
(ˈʰwɪs əl, ˈwɪs-)v. -tled, -tling,
n. v.i.
1. to make a high clear musical sound or a series of such sounds by forcing the breath through puckered lips or through the teeth.
2. to produce sounds resembling a whistle, as by blowing on some device.
3. to emit a call like a whistle: birds whistling in the shrubbery.
4. to produce a similar sound when actuated by steam or the like: The teapot whistles.
5. to move with a whistling sound, as a bullet or the wind.
v.t. 6. to produce by whistling: to whistle a tune.
7. to call, direct, or signal by or as if by whistling: He whistled his dog over.
8. to send with a whistling or whizzing sound.
n. 9. an instrument for producing whistling sounds by various means, as by the breath through a small tin tube or through a device with an air chamber containing a small ball.
10. a sound produced by whistling.
Idioms: 1. blow the whistle, to expose crime or other wrongdoing.
2. blow the whistle on, to expose (wrongdoing or wrongdoers).
3. wet one's whistle, to take a drink.
4. whistle Dixie, to indulge in unrealistically optimistic fantasies.
5. whistle in the dark, to try to remain brave in the face of danger or adversity.
[before 950; Middle English; Old English hwistlian; akin to Old Norse hvīsla to whistle, hviskra to whisper]
whis′tle•a•ble, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
whistle
- fipple flute - The same as a recorder or flageolet—a flute blown from one end like a whistle.
- pistol - Derives from a Czechoslovakian word meaning "whistle," and evolved into the name of the firearm because of a resemblance in shape.
- lanyard - The cord holding a whistle.
- quill - The whistle of a steam engine.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
whistle
Past participle: whistled
Gerund: whistling
| Imperative |
|---|
| whistle |
| whistle |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  whistle - the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperturesound - the sudden occurrence of an audible event; "the sound awakened them" |
| 2. |  whistle - the act of signalling (e.g., summoning) by whistling or blowing a whistle; "the whistle signalled the end of the game" | |
| 3. | whistle - a small wind instrument that produces a whistling sound by blowing into it wind instrument, wind - a musical instrument in which the sound is produced by an enclosed column of air that is moved by the breath | |
| 4. | whistle - acoustic device that forces air or steam against an edge or into a cavity and so produces a loud shrill sound acoustic device - a device for amplifying or transmitting sound boat whistle - a whistle on a boat that is sounded as a warning factory whistle - a whistle at a factory that is sounded to announce times for starting or stopping work signaling device - a device used to send signals steam whistle - a whistle in which the sound is produced by steam; usually attached to a steam boiler | |
| 5. |  whistle - an inexpensive fipple flute fipple flute, fipple pipe, vertical flute, recorder - a tubular wind instrument with 8 finger holes and a fipple mouthpiece | |
| Verb | 1. | whistle - make whistling sounds; "He lay there, snoring and whistling" |
| 2. | whistle - move with, or as with, a whistling sound; "The bullets whistled past him" go, locomote, move, travel - change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically; "How fast does your new car go?"; "We travelled from Rome to Naples by bus"; "The policemen went from door to door looking for the suspect"; "The soldiers moved towards the city in an attempt to take it before night fell"; "news travelled fast" | |
| 3. | whistle - utter or express by whistling; "She whistled a melody" communicate, intercommunicate - transmit thoughts or feelings; "He communicated his anxieties to the psychiatrist" | |
| 4. | whistle - move, send, or bring as if by whistling; "Her optimism whistled away these worries" | |
| 5. | whistle - make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound; "the kettle was singing"; "the bullet sang past his ear" | |
| 6. | whistle - give a signal by whistling; "She whistled for her maid" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
تَصْفُر الرّيحصَفَّارَةصُفّارة الشُّرْطي أو الحَكَم الرِّياضيصَفير الآلَةِ الموسيقيَّهصَفير، صَفْرَه
pískatpíšťalka
fløjtefløjtenhvislepiftensuse
vihellysviheltäävislauspilli
zviždukzviždaljkazviždati
elfütyülfüttyszófütyülsípsivít
blístrablístra, flautablísturflautahvína
口笛口笛を吹く笛
호루라기휘파람을 불다
birbynėšvilpukas
aizsvilptsvilpesvilpienssvilpotsvilpt
hvizdhvízdaťpískaťpíšťalka
piščalkapiskatižvižgžvižgati
pištaljkazviždaljkazviždanjezviždatizvižduk
visslavisslingpipavisselpipa
นกหวีดผิวปาก
huýt sáotiếng huýt sáo
whistle
[ˈwɪsl]A. N
B. VT → silbar
to whistle a tune → silbar una melodía
I'm not just whistling Dixie (US) → no hablo en broma, no me estoy marcando ningún farol
to whistle a tune → silbar una melodía
I'm not just whistling Dixie (US) → no hablo en broma, no me estoy marcando ningún farol
C. VI → silbar, chiflar (esp LAm) (Sport) → pitar, silbar
the boys whistle at the girls → los chicos silban a las chicas
the crowd whistled at the referee → el público silbó al árbitro
he whistled for his dog → llamó a su perro con un silbido
the referee whistled for a foul → el árbitro pitó una falta
the bullet whistled past my ear → la bala pasó silbando muy cerca de mi oreja
he can whistle for it → lo pedirá en vano
the boys whistle at the girls → los chicos silban a las chicas
the crowd whistled at the referee → el público silbó al árbitro
he whistled for his dog → llamó a su perro con un silbido
the referee whistled for a foul → el árbitro pitó una falta
the bullet whistled past my ear → la bala pasó silbando muy cerca de mi oreja
he can whistle for it → lo pedirá en vano
whistle up VT + ADV
4. (= get together) [+ people] → reunir
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
whistle
[ˈhwɪsəl] n
(= sound) → sifflement m
to give a whistle → pousser un sifflement
a whistle of surprise → un sifflement de surprise
to give a whistle → pousser un sifflement
a whistle of surprise → un sifflement de surprise
(= object) → sifflet m
to blow the whistle → donner un coup de sifflet
to blow one's whistle → siffler
The referee blew his whistle → L'arbitre a sifflé.
to blow the whistle → donner un coup de sifflet
to blow one's whistle → siffler
The referee blew his whistle → L'arbitre a sifflé.
to blow the whistle on sb/sth (= report wrongdoing) → dénoncer qn/qch
vi
[person] → siffler
[kettle, train] → siffler
to whistle past sth/sb → siffler au-dessus de qch/qn
Bullets whistled past his head → Les balles sifflaient au-dessus de sa tête.
to whistle past sth/sb → siffler au-dessus de qch/qn
Bullets whistled past his head → Les balles sifflaient au-dessus de sa tête.
vt → siffler, siffloter
He whistled a tune → Il sifflota un air.whistle-blower whistleblower [ˈhwɪsəlbləʊər] n → dénonciateur/trice m/fwhistle-blowing whistleblowing [hwɪsəlˌbləʊɪŋ] n → dénonciation fwhistle-stop [hwɪsəlstɒp] adj
to make a whistle-stop tour of sth [politician] → faire la tournée électorale des petits patelins de qch
He whistled a tune → Il sifflota un air.whistle-blower whistleblower [ˈhwɪsəlbləʊər] n → dénonciateur/trice m/fwhistle-blowing whistleblowing [hwɪsəlˌbləʊɪŋ] n → dénonciation fwhistle-stop [hwɪsəlstɒp] adj
to make a whistle-stop tour of sth [politician] → faire la tournée électorale des petits patelins de qch
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
whistle
n
(= sound) → Pfiff m; (of wind) → Pfeifen nt; (of kettle) → Pfeifton m; the whistle of the escaping steam → das Pfeifen des ausströmenden Dampfes; to give a whistle → einen Pfiff ausstoßen
(= instrument) → Pfeife f; to blow a/one’s whistle → pfeifen; to blow the whistle on somebody/something (fig inf) → über jdn/etw auspacken (inf); to be as clean as a whistle (= clean) → blitzsauber sein; (fig also) → eine schneeweiße Weste haben ? wet VT
vt → pfeifen; to whistle (to) somebody to stop → jdn durch einen Pfiff stoppen; to whistle somebody back/over etc → jdn zurück-/herüberpfeifen etc
vi → pfeifen; the boys whistled at her → die Jungen pfiffen ihr nach; the crowd whistled at the referee → die Menge pfiff den Schiedsrichter aus; he whistled for a taxi → er pfiff ein Taxi heran, er pfiff nach einem Taxi; the referee whistled for a foul → der Schiedsrichter pfiff ein Foul; the referee whistled for play to stop → der Schiedsrichter pfiff eine Spielunterbrechung; (at the end) → der Schiedsrichter pfiff das Spiel ab; he can whistle for it (inf) → da kann er lange warten, da kann er warten, bis er schwarz wird (inf)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
whistle
[ˈwɪsl]1. n (sound) → fischio; (instrument) → fischietto
the referee blew his whistle → l'arbitro fischiò
the police searched him, but he was as clean as a whistle → la polizia lo ha perquisito ma lui era pulito
the handle broke off as clean as a whistle → il manico si è staccato di netto
to blow the whistle on (inform on) → fare una soffiata su
the referee blew his whistle → l'arbitro fischiò
the police searched him, but he was as clean as a whistle → la polizia lo ha perquisito ma lui era pulito
the handle broke off as clean as a whistle → il manico si è staccato di netto
to blow the whistle on (inform on) → fare una soffiata su
2. vt to whistle a tune → fischiettare un motivetto
3. vi (gen) → fischiare; (in low tone) → fischiettare
he whistled for a taxi → fischiò per fermare un taxi
the referee whistled for a foul → l'arbitro fischiò un fallo
the bullet whistled past my ear → la pallottola mi fischiò vicino all'orecchio
he's whistling in the dark (fig) → lo fa (or dice) per darsi coraggio
he can whistle for it! (fig) (fam) → se lo può sognare!
he whistled for a taxi → fischiò per fermare un taxi
the referee whistled for a foul → l'arbitro fischiò un fallo
the bullet whistled past my ear → la pallottola mi fischiò vicino all'orecchio
he's whistling in the dark (fig) → lo fa (or dice) per darsi coraggio
he can whistle for it! (fig) (fam) → se lo può sognare!
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
whistle
(ˈwisl) verb1. to make a shrill, often musical, sound by forcing one's breath between the lips or teeth. Can you whistle?; He whistled to attract my attention; He whistled a happy tune.
2. to make such a sound with a device designed for this. The electric kettle's whistling; The referee whistled for half-time.
3. to make a shrill sound in passing through the air. The bullet whistled past his head.
4. (of the wind) to blow with a shrill sound.
noun1. the sound made by whistling. He gave a loud whistle to his friend across the road.
2. a musical pipe designed to make a whistling noise.
3. an instrument used by policemen, referees etc to make a whistling noise. The referee blew his whistle at the end of the game.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
whistle
→ صَفَّارَة, يَصْفِرُ pískat, píšťalka fløjte Pfeife, pfeifen σφυρίζω, σφυρίχτρα silbar, silbato vihellys, viheltää siffler, sifflet zviždati, zvižduk fischiare, fischietto 口笛, 口笛を吹く 호루라기, 휘파람을 불다 fluiten, fluitje fløyte, plystre gwizdek, gwizdnąć apito, assobiar свист, свистеть vissla, vissling นกหวีด, ผิวปาก ıslık, ıslık çalmak huýt sáo, tiếng huýt sáo 口哨, 吹口哨Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
whis·tle
n. silbido;
v. silbar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012