gargle

American  

[gahr-guhl] / ˈgɑr gəl /

verb (used without object)

gargled, gargling

1. to wash or rinse the throat or mouth with a liquid held in the throat and kept in motion by a stream of air from the lungs.

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verb (used with object)

gargled, gargling

1. to gargle (the throat or mouth).

2. to utter with a gargling sound.

noun

1. any liquid used for gargling.

2. a gargling sound.

gargle British  

/ ˈɡɑːɡəl /

verb

1. to rinse (the mouth and throat) with a liquid, esp a medicinal fluid by slowly breathing out through the liquid

2. to utter (words, sounds, etc) with the throaty bubbling noise of gargling

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noun

1. the liquid used for gargling

2. the sound produced by gargling

3. informal an alcoholic drink

   what was her favourite gargle?

Other Word Forms

• gargler noun

Etymology

Origin of gargle

1520–30; < Middle French gargouiller to gargle, rattle the throat, derivative of gargouille throat; perhaps imitative

Example Sentences

As I was gargling in the bathroom, she appeared at the doorway to snidely say, “Don’t drink it.”

From Salon

“Self-care is important,” the monster responds in a voice that sounds like it brushes with charcoal and gargles with rocks each morning.

From Literature

If you've been spitting, rinsing and gargling after every brush, you might want to rethink that last step.

From BBC

“There is nothing more you can do!” came Roz’s gargling voice.

From Literature

People swallow or gargle the brews to combat routine bacterial infections.

From Salon