Definition

1. 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.

2. 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

1. a very loud utterance (like the sound of an animal)
   • his bellow filled the hallway

Verb

1. utter shrieks, as of cats
2. cry loudly, as of animals
   • The coyotes were howling in the desert