hoot

¹

[hoot]

verb (used without object)

1. to cry out or shout, especially in disapproval or derision.

   Synonyms: hiss, boo, jeer

2. to utter the cry characteristic of an owl.

3. to utter a similar sound.

4. Chiefly British.,  to blow a horn or whistle; toot.

verb (used with object)

1. to assail with shouts of disapproval or derision.

   The fans hooted the umpire.

   Synonyms: razz, boo

2. to drive out, off, or away by hooting.

3. to express in hoots.

   The crowd hooted its disagreement with the speaker.

noun

1. the cry of an owl.

2. any similar sound, as an inarticulate shout.

3. a cry or shout, especially of disapproval or derision.

4. British.,  a horn, siren, or whistle, especially a factory whistle.

5. Informal.,  the least bit of concern, interest, or thought; trifle.

   His religion doesn't matter a hoot to me.

6. Slang.,  an extremely funny person, situation, or event.

   Your cousin is such a hoot!

hoot

²

Or hoots

[hoot]

interjection

Scot. and North England.

1. (used as an expression of impatience, dissatisfaction, objection, or dislike.)

hoot

¹

/ huːt /

noun

1. the mournful wavering cry of some owls

2. a similar sound, such as that of a train whistle

3. a jeer of derision

4. informal,  an amusing person or thing

   the weekend was a hoot

5. not to care at all

verb

1. (often foll by at) to jeer or yell (something) contemptuously (at someone)

2. (tr) to drive (political speakers, actors on stage, etc) off or away by hooting

3. (intr) to make a hoot

4. (intr) to blow a horn

hoot

²

/ huːts, huːt /

interjection

1. an exclamation of impatience or dissatisfaction: a supposed Scotticism

hoot

³

/ huːt /

noun

1. a slang word for money

Other Word Forms

• hootingly adverb
• unhooted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoot¹

First recorded in 1200–1250; Middle English verb houten, whoten; imitative of the sound

Origin of hoot²

First recorded in 1600–10; hoot ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “shout of disapproval or derision”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoot¹

C13 hoten, of imitative origin

Origin of hoot²

C17: of unknown origin

Origin of hoot³

from Māori utu price

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. not give / care a hoot, to not care at all: null not givecare two hoots.

   I don't give a hoot.

see not give a damn (hoot).

Example Sentences

Its lonely, hooting whistle pierced the air, until the children winced and pressed their hands over their ears.

Read more on Literature

Even the wolves found this conversation interesting, as you might well imagine, but the discussion was cut short by a hooting, unnatural sound, coming from a far distance.

Read more on Literature

When the conductor sounded three deafening, mournful hoots on the train whistle, the children covered their ears and howled even more loudly in protest.

Read more on Literature

Elton’s motivations don’t make sense, but at least Cera barges into the movie with so much energy that his sequence is a hoot.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The freshly revamped, DJ-driven lounge in downtown’s historic core filled out with loft-dwelling locals still getting mileage from their Halloween costumes, while incoming Dodger fans hooted and revved their engines out on Main Street.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• boo 
• heckle 
• hiss 
• howl 
• jeer 
• scream 
• whistle