# howl

Pronunciation: say "HOWL" /haʊl/

## Verb

1. To utter a long, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do.
   - Simple: To make a long, sad, loud sound, like a dog or wolf does.
   - _The huskies howl in chorus whenever a siren passes the kennel._
   - _A lone wolf howled across the frozen valley at dusk._
3. To cry out loudly and mournfully from pain or distress; to wail or lament.
   - Simple: To cry out loudly because of pain or sadness.
   - _Mourners howled with grief at the graveside._
   - _She wanted to howl in frustration but kept silent._
6. To make a sound like the cry of a wild animal, as a strong wind may do.
   - Simple: To make a loud noise like a wild animal's cry.
   - _Storms can howl across these plains for days at a time._
   - _The gale howled around the lighthouse all night._
7. To express or say something loudly and with an outcry.
   - Simple: To say something in a loud, crying voice.
   - _The fans howled their disapproval when the goal was disallowed._
   - _Critics howl objections every time the policy is mentioned._

## Noun

2. The long, mournful cry of a dog, wolf, or other canid, and of other animals as well.
   - Simple: The long, sad cry made by a dog, wolf, or similar animal.
   - _The mournful howl of a distant wolf carried across the valley._
   - _Hikers reported strange howls echoing through the canyon after dark._
4. A long, drawn-out cry that expresses distress or anguish.
   - Simple: A long, loud cry made because of pain or great sadness.
   - _A howl of anguish rose from the crowd as the verdict was read._
   - _His sobs turned into ragged howls of despair._
5. A sound resembling an animal's mournful cry, such as wind or machinery.
   - Simple: A sound like an animal's long cry, such as wind or a siren.
   - _The howl of the storm drowned out every other sound._
   - _Feedback produced an electronic howl from the speakers._

## Origin

From Middle English howlen, from Old English *hūlian, going back through Proto-West Germanic and Proto-Germanic *hūwilōną ("to howl"), perhaps from a Proto-Indo-European root *kū-, *kew- ("to howl, scream"). It is likely of imitative origin, and is related to Dutch huilen, German heulen, and Danish hyle.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/howl (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).