yowl
/jaul/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A loud, long, mournful cry or howl: A "yowl" is a prolonged, often distressed vocal sound, typically made by an animal such as a cat or dog, but it can also describe a similar loud, wailing cry made by a person.
Verb:
- To utter a loud, long, mournful cry: To "yowl" means to make such a sound. It often implies a sound of pain, distress, or, in the case of animals like cats, communication (e.g., during mating).
Usage and Examples
Noun:
- The sudden yowl from the alley made me jump. (The loud, distressing animal cry from the alley caused me to startle.)
- He let out a yowl of pain when he stubbed his toe. (He emitted a loud, wailing cry of pain.)
Verb:
- The cats yowl at each other every night. (The cats emit loud, long cries at each other.)
- The wounded animal yowled piteously until help arrived. (The injured animal cried out loudly and mournfully.)
Advanced Usage
- Describing Human Sounds: While typically for animals, "yowl" can be used figuratively or humorously for people to emphasize a particularly loud, complaining, or mournful cry.
- The toddler yowled for an hour after his toy was taken away.
- In Literature: Used to create atmosphere, often conveying loneliness, pain, or a wild, untamed setting.
- The yowl of the wind through the canyon was an eerie sound.
Variants and Related Words
- Howl (n./v.): A similar long, loud cry, but more commonly associated with wolves, dogs, or the wind. A "yowl" can be seen as a specific type of howl, often with a more mournful or feline quality.
- Caterwaul (n./v.): A harsh, discordant howl or yowl, specifically used for cats. It often carries a more negative, noisy connotation than "yowl."
- Bellow (n./v.): A deep, loud roar, typically from a large animal like a bull or a person shouting angrily. It is less mournful and more powerful/angry than a yowl.
- Wail (n./v.): A prolonged high-pitched cry of pain, grief, or anger. A "wail" is very similar to a "yowl" but is more universally applied to humans.
Synonyms
- Howl: To emit a long, loud, doleful cry.
- Wail: To utter a prolonged, high-pitched sound of misery.
- Bawl: To cry or wail loudly.
- Cry: To shed tears or make a loud vocal expression of emotion.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions
(Note: "Yowl" is not typically used in phrasal verb constructions. It is used as a standalone verb.) - To yowl out: An emphatic form, meaning to cry out with a yowl. - The creature yowled out in the darkness.
Related Idioms
(Note: There are no common idioms centered on the word "yowl." It may appear in descriptive phrases.) - To let out a yowl: To suddenly produce such a cry. - The cat let out a yowl and dashed under the bed.
Noun
- a very loud utterance (like the sound of an animal)
- his bellow filled the hallway
Verb
- utter shrieks, as of cats
- cry loudly, as of animals
- The coyotes were howling in the desert