Yowl - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A yowl is a loud, drawn-out cry, often made by cats in distress or during mating. It can also describe a similar harsh, wailing sound made by humans or other animals.
Definition:
A loud, wailing cry, often made by a cat or dog in distress.
Synonyms:
howl, wail, screech, yelp
Part of Speech:
noun, verb
Antonyms:
whisper, murmur
Common Collocations:
loud yowl, piercing yowl, mournful yowl
Derivatives:
yowling, yowled
Usage Tips:
Use "yowl" to describe a prolonged, high-pitched animal cry or human sound resembling it.
Common Phrases:
let out a yowl, midnight yowl, eerie yowl
Etymology:
Originates from Middle English "yowlen," imitative of the sound it describes.
Examples:
- 1. The cat let out a yowl when its tail was stepped on.
- 2. At night, we heard a stray dog’s lonely yowl in the distance.
- 3. She gave a startled yowl as the icy water touched her skin.
- 4. The injured fox began to yowl pitifully in the woods.