chirp

[ churp ]
See synonyms for chirp on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object)
  1. to make a characteristic short, sharp sound, as small birds and certain insects.

  2. to make any similar sound: The children chirped with amusement.

verb (used with object)
  1. to sound or utter in a chirping manner: The little girl chirped her joy.

noun
  1. a chirping sound.

Origin of chirp

1
1400–50; late Middle English chyrpynge (gerund); expressive word akin to cheep, chirk, etc.

Other words from chirp

  • chirper, noun
  • chirp·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use chirp in a sentence

  • The sparrow on the telegraph wire chirps cheeky nonsense to him as he passes by.

    My First Book: | Various

British Dictionary definitions for chirp (1 of 2)

chirp

/ (tʃɜːp) /


verb(intr)
  1. (esp of some birds and insects) to make a short high-pitched sound

  2. to speak in a lively fashion

noun
  1. a chirping sound, esp that made by a bird

Origin of chirp

1
C15 (as chirpinge, gerund): of imitative origin

Derived forms of chirp

  • chirper, noun

British Dictionary definitions for CHIRP (2 of 2)

CHIRP

/ (tʃɜːp) /


n acronym for
  1. Confidential Human Incidents Reporting Programme: a system, run by the RAF Institute of Medicine, by which commercial pilots can comment on safety trends without the knowledge of their employers

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012