Definition

1. Noun:

   • A prolonged, high-pitched cry of sorrow, grief, or pain: A "wail" is a long, loud, and often mournful sound expressing deep sadness, despair, or physical suffering.

2. Verb:

   • To utter a prolonged, high-pitched cry of sorrow, grief, or pain: To "wail" means to cry out with a long, loud, and often mournful sound.
   • To make a sound resembling such a cry: To "wail" can also describe a similar long, high, and often sad sound produced by something non-human, like wind or a siren.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • A wail of grief rose from the mourners at the funeral.
  • The baby's hungry wail could be heard throughout the house.

• Verb:

  • The child began to wail after falling off the bicycle.
  • The wind wailed through the cracks in the old cabin.
  • She wailed in despair when she heard the terrible news.

Advanced Usage

• "to wail on (someone/something)" (Informal): To attack or criticize someone or something severely, often verbally.

  • The critic wailed on the director's latest film, calling it a complete failure.

• "to wail for": To lament or mourn for someone or something.

  • The poet wailed for the lost innocence of his youth.

Variants and Related Words

• Wailer (noun): A person who wails, especially a professional mourner.
  • In some traditions, wailers are hired for funerals.
• Wailing (noun/adjective): The act or sound of wailing; producing a wail.
  • The wailing of the sirens filled the night air.
  • We heard a wailing noise coming from the attic.

Synonyms

• Noun: Howl, lament, moan, cry, keening.
• Verb: Howl, lament, moan, cry, weep, bawl, keen.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "wail" is not commonly used in standard phrasal verb constructions. Its primary use is as a standalone verb or noun.)

Related Idioms

• "Wail like a banshee": To wail or scream very loudly and shrilly. (A banshee is a female spirit in Irish folklore whose wail warns of death.)
  • When she saw the spider, she wailed like a banshee.

Noun

1. a cry of sorrow and grief
   • their pitiful laments could be heard throughout the ward

Verb

1. cry weakly or softly
   • she wailed with pain
2. emit long loud cries
   • wail in self-pity
   • howl with sorrow