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warble

noun war·ble \ ˈwȯr-bəl \

Definition of warble

1 : a melodious succession of low pleasing sounds
2 : a musical trill
3 : the action of warbling

Origin and Etymology of warble

Middle English werble tune, from Old French (Picard dialect), from werbler to sing expressively, trill, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch wervelen to turn, Old High German wirbil whirlwind — more at whirl

2

warble

verb

Definition of warble

warbled; warbling play \-b(ə-)liŋ\
intransitive verb
1 : to sing in a trilling manner or with many turns and variations
2 : to become sounded with trills, quavers, and rapid modulations in pitch
3 : sing
transitive verb
: to render with turns, runs, or rapid modulations : trill

See warble defined for English-language learners

Examples of warble in a Sentence

  1. Birds were warbling in the trees.

  2. He warbled his way through the song.

First Known Use of warble

14th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

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warble Synonyms

Synonyms

quaver, trill;

Related Words

slur;

yodel;

belt, carol, chant, chorus, croon, descant, harmonize, troll, vocalize;

lilt, scat;

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, refrain, riff, segue

3

warble

noun

Definition of warble

1 : a swelling under the skin especially of the back of cattle, horses, and wild mammals caused by infestation with maggots of a botfly or warble fly
2 : the maggot of a warble fly
—

warbled

play \ˈwȯr-bəld\ adjective

Origin and Etymology of warble

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to obsolete Swedish varbulde boil, from var pus + bulde swelling

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

WARBLE Defined for English Language Learners

warble

verb

Definition of warble for English Language Learners

  • of a bird : to sing a song that has many different notes

  • : to sing (something) especially with a high or shaky voice

WARBLE Defined for Kids

1

warble

noun war·ble \ ˈwȯr-bəl \

Definition of warble for Students

1 : low pleasing sounds that form a melody (as of a bird)
2 : the action of making low pleasing sounds that form a melody
2

warble

verb

Definition of warble for Students

warbled; warbling
: to sing a melody of low pleasing sounds

Medical Dictionary

warble

noun war·ble \ ˈwȯr-bəl \

medical Definition of warble

1 : a swelling under the hide especially of the back of cattle, horses, and wild mammals caused by the maggot of a botfly or warble fly
2 : the maggot of a warble fly
—

warbled

play \-bəld\ adjective

Learn More about warble

  1. See words that rhyme with warble Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for warble Spanish Central: Translation of warble Nglish: Translation of warble for Spanish speakers

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