bleat

American  

[bleet] / blit /

verb (used without object)

1. to utter the cry of a sheep, goat, or calf or a sound resembling such a cry.

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verb (used with object)

1. to give forth with or as if with a bleat.

   He bleated his objections in a helpless rage.

2. to babble; prate.

noun

1. the cry of a sheep, goat, or calf.

2. any similar sound.

   the bleat of distant horns.

3. foolish, complaining talk; babble.

   I listened to their inane bleat all evening.

bleat British  

/ bliːt /

verb

1. (intr) (of a sheep, goat, or calf) to utter its characteristic plaintive cry

2. (intr) to speak with any similar sound

3. to whine; whimper

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noun

1. the characteristic cry of sheep, goats, and young calves

2. any sound similar to this

3. a weak complaint or whine

Other Word Forms

• bleater noun
• bleating noun
• bleatingly adverb
• outbleat verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of bleat

before 1000; Middle English bleten, Old English blǣtan; cognate with Dutch blaten, Old High German blāzen; akin to Latin flēre to weep

Example Sentences

Trombones bleat, a tuba bellows, drums are the heart.

From Salon • Nov. 8, 2025

At a recent rehearsal, despite clarinet squeaks and the occasional bleat of a rogue saxophone, almost every student was smiling, Sarah Diamond reports in The Times.

From New York Times • Jun. 21, 2022

Despite clarinet squeaks and the occasional bleat of a rogue saxophone, almost every student was smiling.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 18, 2022

There are those cute rodents that scurry about and delightful little donut-rolling sheep that exist only to bleat at you as you zip by them on Torrent.

From The Verge • Mar. 11, 2022

Nearby, through the fog, she could hear the sheep move in the grass, and an occasional bleat.

From "Son" by Lois Lowry