bleat
Americanverb (used without object)
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.
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
Other Word Forms
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
Explanation
The sound a lamb or calf makes is a bleat. If you hear tiny bleats coming from your barn, you'll know the new baby goats were born at last. Many animals might bleat, though a bleat is a slightly weak, high-pitched sound, which is why it's typically made by young animals. When baby animals bleat, their mothers naturally go to them to feed or comfort them. You might also describe a human's cry or whine as a bleat, if it's particularly pitiful. The word comes from a Germanic root, and it's imitative of the sound itself.
Vocabulary lists containing bleat
Instead of "Said": Words That Sound Like What They Mean
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Cay
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Ground Zero
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Trombones bleat, a tuba bellows, drums are the heart.
From Salon • Nov. 8, 2025
Rhapsodizing about condiments to a ship of starving workers, Ylfa may as well bleat, “Let them eat ketchup!”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2025
Around him in the fenced-in yard, four goats bleat and 18 turkeys and more than 20 chickens peck at the grass.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 8, 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
But the goats began to bleat happily, and the chickens talked all together.
From "Miracles on Maple Hill" by Virginia Sorensen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
