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

He showed me inside, and when I told him the place was nice, he let out a low, resentful bleat of laughter.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2023

This is how Shiv, Kendall and Rome end up watching Connor bleat a forlorn cover of Marissa Nadler's "Famous Blue Raincoat" as Logan descends from on high to invade their musical bunker.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2023

On “Saturday Night Live,” Gilda Radner mocked Ms. Walters’ voice, which Vogue characterized as “a distinctive Boston bleat at once flat, hoarse and nasal.”

From New York Times • Dec. 31, 2022

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

From Seattle Times • Jun. 18, 2022

“Fish!” they’d bleat, using the chess player’s derisive term for a really weak player, whenever Bobby made an obvious blunder.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady