gurgle

[gur-guhl]

verb (used without object)

gurgled, gurgling 

1. to flow in a broken, irregular, noisy current.

   The water gurgled from the bottle.

   Synonyms: babble, burble, bubble

2. to make a sound as of water doing this (often used of birds or of human beings).

   Synonyms: babble, burble, bubble

verb (used with object)

gurgled, gurgling 

1. to utter or express with a gurgling sound.

   The baby gurgled her delight.

noun

1. the act or noise of gurgling.

gurgle

/ ˈɡɜːɡəl /

verb

1. (of liquids, esp of rivers, streams, etc) to make low bubbling noises when flowing

2. to utter low throaty bubbling noises, esp as a sign of contentment

   the baby gurgled with delight

noun

1. the act or sound of gurgling

Other Word Forms

• gurglingly adverb
• gurgling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gurgle¹

First recorded in 1555–65; compare Dutch, Middle Low German gorgelen, German gurgeln “to gargle”; akin to Latin gurguliō “throat”

Word History and Origins

Origin of gurgle¹

C16: perhaps from Vulgar Latin gurgulāre, from Latin gurguliō gullet

Example Sentences

Lady Constance delighted in each one, and she personally wrote countless prompt thank-you notes while the babies gurgled in their cradle.

Read more on Literature

It was as if all the pluck and hope and optimism in the world had just gurgled down the bathtub drain, and there was nothing left anywhere but gloom.

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The robot became aware of a gurgling sound, and then a cluster of towering rocks emerged.

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"But which tremor signals are true precursors of an eruption, and which are just background 'gurgling'? Our results lay the foundation for improving eruption forecasting in the future."

Read more on Science Daily

He can make a Bach sarabande work anywhere, including on a river rafting trip with a background of gurgling water on his latest Bach recording.

Read more on Los Angeles Times