bleat
[ bleet ]
/ blit /
verb (used without object)
to utter the cry of a sheep, goat, or calf or a sound resembling such a cry.
verb (used with object)
to give forth with or as if with a bleat: He bleated his objections in a helpless rage.
to babble; prate.
noun
the cry of a sheep, goat, or calf.
any similar sound: the bleat of distant horns.
foolish, complaining talk; babble: I listened to their inane bleat all evening.
Nearby words
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
Related formsbleat·er, nounbleat·ing·ly, adverbout·bleat, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for bleat
British Dictionary definitions for bleat
bleat
/ (bliːt) /
verb
(intr) (of a sheep, goat, or calf) to utter its characteristic plaintive cry
(intr) to speak with any similar sound
to whine; whimper
noun
the characteristic cry of sheep, goats, and young calves
any sound similar to this
a weak complaint or whine
Derived Formsbleater, nounbleating, noun, adjective
Word Origin for bleat
Old English blǣtan; related to Old High German blāzen, Dutch blaten, Latin flēre to weep; see blare
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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