chirp

American  

[churp] / tʃɜrp /

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.

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verb (used with object)

1. to sound or utter in a chirping manner.

   The little girl chirped her joy.

noun

1. a chirping sound.

chirp ¹ British  

/ tʃɜːp /

verb

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

2. to speak in a lively fashion

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noun

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

CHIRP ² British  

/ tʃɜːp /

acronym

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

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Other Word Forms

• chirper noun
• chirpingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of chirp

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

Example Sentences

Their chirps are the sound of the old battle-ax saying goodbye to his homeland before the Iron Curtain slams shut.

From Los Angeles Times

Thirteen years ago when he purchased his home that patch of land was filled with green trees and chirping birds.

From BBC

Green was slapped with his first technical foul of the season midway through the first quarter for chirping at officials from the bench.

From Barron's

“This is Meredith,” a voice chirps, before Bezucha cuts from black to a shot of the back of a woman’s head, focusing on her hair that’s been tightly wound into a severe bun.

From Salon

“But if you had the same player chirp and chirp, that player that’s just always on you, literally anything they say goes through one ear and out the other.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• trill
• warble