trill
1[ tril ]
/ trɪl /
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verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
Origin of trill
1First recorded in 1640–50; from Italian trillo, triglio “quaver or warble in singing,” ultimately from Germanic; compare Dutch trillen “to vibrate,” late Middle English trillen “to shake or rock (something)”
Other definitions for trill (2 of 2)
trill2
[ tril ]
/ trɪl /
verb (used without object)
to flow in a thin stream; trickle.
verb (used with object)
to cause to flow in a thin stream.
Origin of trill
2First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English trillen “to make (something) turn, to roll, flow (said of tears, water),” from Old Danish trijlæ “to roll” (said, e.g., of tears and of a wheelbarrow); compare Norwegian trille , Swedish trilla; see trill1
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use trill in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for trill (1 of 2)
trill1
/ (trɪl) /
noun
music a melodic ornament consisting of a rapid alternation between a principal note and the note a whole tone or semitone above itUsual symbol: (written above a note) tr., tr
a shrill warbling sound, esp as made by some birds
phonetics
- the articulation of an (r) sound produced by holding the tip of the tongue close to the alveolar ridge, allowing the tongue to make a succession of taps against the ridge
- the production of a similar effect using the uvula against the back of the tongue
verb
to sound, sing, or play (a trill or with a trill)
(tr) to pronounce (an (r) sound) by the production of a trill
Word Origin for trill
C17: from Italian trillo, from trillare, apparently from Middle Dutch trillen to vibrate
British Dictionary definitions for trill (2 of 2)
Word Origin for trill
C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Norwegian trilla to roll; see trill 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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