Definition of "howl"

howl

/haʊl/

noun
plural howls
1. The protracted, mournful cry of a dog, wolf or other canid; also of other animals.
  Quotations
  [T]he fox was out on love-adventures, abused his rivals, and uttered scoffing screams and howls.
  1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 117
  All at once the cat thrust her paw inside the ring again, but the tailor was quick as lightning and chopped the paw off. The cats set up a terrible howl, and away they rushed through the door as fast as they could.
  1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 159
  Dan was beginning to feel very depressed when suddenly the eerie howl of a dingo rang out[.]
  1943, H. Lorna Bingham, The Lost Tribe, Sydney: Winn and Co., page 13, column 2
2. Any similar sound.
3. A prolonged cry of distress or anguish; a wail.
verb
third-person singular simple present howls, present participle howling, simple past and past participle howled
1. To utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do.
  Quotations
  Methought a legion of foul fiends / Environ'd me about, and howled in my ears.
  c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene iv]
  VVhen ominus ſignes to ſhew themſelues began, / That novv at hand this monſtrous birth fore-ran: / About at noone flew the affrighted Ovvle, / And dogs in corners ſet them dovvne to hovvle: […]
  1627, Michaell Drayton [i.e., Michael Drayton], “The Moone-calfe”, in The Battaile of Agincourt. […], London: […] A[ugustine] M[atthews] for VVilliam Lee, […], published 1631, page 223
2. To utter a sound expressive of pain or distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail.
  Quotations
  Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Isaiah 13:6
3. To make a noise resembling the cry of a wild beast.
  Quotations
  Wild howl'd the wind the forest glades along, / And oft the owl renew'd her dismal song; […]
  1809, Walter Scott, “[Fragments, […].] The Poacher”, in The Poetical Works of Walter Scott, Esq. […], volume XI, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Company] for Arch[ibald] Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; and John Murray, published 1820, page 180
4. To utter with outcry.

Definition of "howl"

howl

noun

Quotations

verb

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations