whine
[ wahyn, hwahyn ]
/ waɪn, ʰwaɪn /
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verb (used without object), whined, whin·ing.
to utter a low, usually nasal, complaining cry or sound, as from uneasiness, discontent, peevishness, etc.:The puppies were whining from hunger.
to snivel or complain in a peevish, self-pitying way: He is always whining about his problems.
verb (used with object), whined, whin·ing.
to utter with or as if with a whine: I whined my litany of complaints.
noun
a whining utterance, sound, or tone.
a feeble, peevish complaint.
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Origin of whine
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English verb whinen “to groan in pain or distress; make animal sounds, whimper, whinny, squeal,” Old English hwīnan (of an arrow) “to whiz, buzz, hum”; cognate with Old Norse hvīna, of imitative origin
synonym study for whine
2. See complain.
OTHER WORDS FROM whine
whin·er, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH whine
wine, whineDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use whine in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for whine
whine
/ (waɪn) /
noun
a long high-pitched plaintive cry or moan
a continuous high-pitched sound
a peevish complaint, esp one repeated
verb
to make a whine or utter in a whine
Derived forms of whine
whiner, nounwhining, adjectivewhiningly, adverbWord Origin for whine
Old English hwīnan; related to Old Norse hvīna, Swedish hvija to scream
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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