howl
[ houl ]
/ haʊl /
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
to utter with howls: to howl the bad news.
to drive or force by howls (often followed by down): to howl down the opposition.
noun
RELATED CONTENT
How To Cut Down Run-On SentencesA run-on sentence is a sentence where two or more independent clauses have been incorrectly joined together. An independent clause contains both a subject and a verb and can stand on its own as a complete sentence. Some examples of independent clauses include “Jane ate dinner,” “John went to the store,” and “Sue made a pie.” Comma Splices A comma splice is a grammatical error …
Nearby words
however much, howf, howff, howitzer, howk, howl, howl down, howland island, howler, howlet, howlin' wolf
Origin of howl
1300–50; Middle English hulen, houlen (v.); cognate with Dutch huilen, Low German hülen, German heulen, Danish hyle; akin to Old Norse ȳla
Related formsout·howl, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for howl down (1 of 2)
howl down
verb
(tr, adverb) to prevent (a speaker) from being heard by shouting disapprovingly
British Dictionary definitions for howl down (2 of 2)
howl
/ (haʊl) /
noun
a long plaintive cry or wail characteristic of a wolf or hound
a similar cry of pain or sorrow
slang
- a person or thing that is very funny
- a prolonged outburst of laughter
electronics an unwanted prolonged high-pitched sound produced by a sound-producing system as a result of feedback
verb
Word Origin for howl
C14: houlen; related to Middle High German hiuweln, Middle Dutch hūlen, Danish hyle
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for howl down
howl
early 13c., houlen, probably ultimately of imitative origin; similar formations are found in other Germanic languages. Related: Howled; howling. As a noun from 1590s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper