Advertisement
Advertisement
wail
[ weyl ]
verb (used without object)
- to utter a prolonged, inarticulate, mournful cry, usually high-pitched or clear-sounding, as in grief or suffering:
to wail with pain.
- to make mournful sounds, as music or the wind.
- to lament or mourn bitterly.
- Jazz. to perform exceptionally well.
- Slang. to express emotion musically or verbally in an exciting, satisfying way.
verb (used with object)
to wail the dead;
to wail one's fate.
- to express in wailing; cry or say in lamentation:
to wail one's grief.
noun
- the act of wailing.
- a wailing cry, as of grief, pain, or despair.
- any similar mournful sound:
the wail of an old tune.
wail
/ ɱɪ /
verb
- intr to utter a prolonged high-pitched cry, as of grief or misery
- intr to make a sound resembling such a cry
the wind wailed in the trees
- tr to lament, esp with mournful sounds
noun
- a prolonged high-pitched mournful cry or sound
Derived Forms
- ˈɲڳܱ, adjective
- ˈɲڳܱly, adverb
- ˈɲ, noun
Other Word Forms
- ɲ· noun
- ܲ·ɲ adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of wail1
Word History and Origins
Origin of wail1
Example Sentences
Barrie heard the wail of sirens and roar of helicopters overhead but had no idea what had happened until a neighbour knocked on the door and broke the news.
It’s a movie where music sizzles and wails out of every pore.
Footage from the Israeli city of Ashkelon showed flashes in the sky as sirens wailed and an explosion at the bottom of a block of flats during the rocket attack on Sunday night.
"I wanted to come here desperately, I wanted to see my husband," wailed one woman, who gave her name as Naruemol, as her friend comforted her.
To the side, women wailed, beating their chests or throwing fistfuls of rice and rose petals.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse