hoot

¹hoot

verb \ˈhüt\

Definition of HOOT

intransitive verb

1

: to shout or laugh usually derisively

2

: to make the natural throat noise of an owl or a similar cry

3

: to make a loud clamorous mechanical sound

transitive verb

1

: to assail or drive out by hooting <hooted down the speaker>

2

: to express or utter with hoots <hooted their disapproval>

Examples of HOOT

1. We could hear an owl hooting in the woods.
2. I hooted at the car in front of me.
3. The crowd booed and hooted when it was announced that the show was canceled.
4. The crowd hooted its disapproval.
5. The speaker was hooted off the platform by a small group of protesters.

Origin of HOOT

Middle English houten, of imitative origin

First Known Use: 13th century

Rhymes with HOOT

boot, bruit, brut, brute, bute, Bute, butte, chute, cloot, coot, cute, flute, fruit, glout, glute, jute, Jute, loot, lute, moot, mute, newt, pood, root, Root, rout, route, scoot, scute, shoot, snoot, soot, suit, suite, toot, tout, ut, Ute

²hoot

noun

Definition of HOOT

1

: a sound of hooting; especially : the cry of an owl

2

: a minimum amount or degree : the least bit <don't give a hoot>

3

: something or someone amusing <the play is a real hoot>

— hooty \ˈhü-tē\ adjective

Examples of HOOT

1. The announcement was met with hoots of derision.
2. <the courtroom erupted in hoots of laughter upon hearing the witness's sarcastic retort>

First Known Use of HOOT

15th century

Related to HOOT

Synonyms

cry, holler, shout, howl, whoop, yell, yowl

Antonyms

cheer

Related Words

ejaculation, interjection; scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squall, squeak, squeal, yelp; bawl, bellow, clamor, outcry, roar; caterwaul, plaint, wail

Near Antonyms

mumble, murmur, mutter; gasp, whimper, whisper

³hoot

interjection \ˈhüt\

Definition of HOOT

chiefly Scottish

—used to express impatience, dissatisfaction, or objection

Variants of HOOT

hoot or hoots \ˈhüts\

Origin of HOOT

origin unknown

First Known Use: 1540