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

This is made worse by an independent press that has been decimated and replaced by magpies chirping for attention and any chance to go viral.

From Salon

“Yes, definitely. I talked to him about it. But you need to talk to him too,” Ray says, pushing the button on his key fob that makes the truck lock chirp.

From Literature

We walk down the path to the well, the tree frogs chirping all around us.

From Literature

The rain had stopped, and the afternoon sky was bright blue and the birds were chirping again.

From Literature

And that was a real shame, since my sister and brother are like baby birds always chirping to be fed.

From Literature

Related Words

• trill
• warble