howl

/haul/
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howl

The wind began to howl outside the window.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • A long, loud, often mournful cry: This is the characteristic vocalization of certain animals, particularly canines like wolves or dogs.
    • A similar loud, prolonged sound: This can describe the noise made by strong wind, a siren, or a person expressing intense emotion like pain, anger, or laughter.

  2. Verb (intransitive):

    • To make a long, loud, mournful cry: Used primarily for animals like wolves, dogs, or coyotes.
    • To make a similar loud, prolonged sound: Used for forces like wind or for people expressing strong emotion through their voice.
    • To laugh very loudly and uncontrollably.

  3. Verb (transitive):

    • To utter or express with a howl: To say something with a loud, wailing cry.
Usage and Examples

  • Noun:

    • The lonely howl of a wolf echoed across the valley.
    • A sudden howl of pain came from the injured player.
    • The comedian's joke was met with howls of laughter from the audience.

  • Verb (intransitive):

    • The dogs howl every time they hear a siren.
    • The wind howled around the corners of the old house all night.
    • The baby howled for an hour before finally falling asleep.

  • Verb (transitive):

    • "Get out!" he howled in fury.
    • The protesters howled their disapproval at the speaker.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
  • Emotional Intensity: A "howl" is not a neutral sound; it implies a raw, powerful, and often uncontrolled expression of emotion (grief, pain, rage, or even extreme mirth).
  • Figurative Use: Can describe any loud, sustained, and desolate-sounding noise.
    • The howl of the jet engines filled the air.
  • "Howl with...": A common construction to specify the cause of the sound.
    • to howl with laughter
    • to howl with pain
    • to howl with rage
Variants and Related Words
  • Howler (noun):
    • A person or animal that howls.
    • (Informal) A ridiculous and obvious mistake; a blunder.
      • The report was full of factual howlers.
  • Howling (adjective/adverb):
    • Producing a howl.
      • a howling wind
    • (Informal) Extreme or great.
      • The party was a howling success.
      • It's howling cold outside.
Synonyms
  • Noun: Cry, wail, yowl, bellow, roar, shriek, moan (depending on context).
  • Verb: Wail, bawl, yowl, bellow, roar, shriek, moan, ululate.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases
  • Howl down (phrasal verb): To prevent a speaker from being heard by shouting loudly and persistently.
    • The angry crowd howled down the politician's speech.
  • Howl in protest: To express strong objection with a loud, wailing cry.
    • Fans howled in protest when the referee made the controversial call.
Idioms and Fixed Expressions
  • Howl at the moon: To protest or complain in a futile way; to engage in a pointless activity. (Derived from the image of a wolf howling.)
    • Arguing with him is like howling at the moon; he never listens.
  • A howling wilderness: A desolate, wild, and uninhabited place.
    • The explorers found themselves in a howling wilderness.
howl

The wind began to howl outside the window.

Noun
  1. a loud sustained noise resembling the cry of a hound
    • the howl of the wind made him restless
  2. the long plaintive cry of a hound or a wolf
  3. a long loud emotional utterance
    • he gave a howl of pain
    • howls of laughter
    • their howling had no effect
Verb
  1. laugh unrestrainedly and heartily
  2. make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
    • The wind was howling in the trees
    • The water roared down the chute
  3. cry loudly, as of animals
    • The coyotes were howling in the desert
  4. emit long loud cries
    • wail in self-pity
    • howl with sorrow

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