whistle

whis·tle

 (wĭs′əl, hwĭs′-)

v. whis·tled, whis·tling, whis·tles

v.intr.

1. To produce a clear musical sound by forcing air through the teeth or through an aperture formed by pursing the lips.

2. To produce a clear, shrill, sharp musical sound by passing air over or through an opening: The tea kettle whistled on the stove.

3.

a. To produce a high-pitched sound when moving swiftly through the air: The stone whistled past my head.

b. To produce a high-pitched sound by the rapid movement of air through an opening or past an obstruction: Wind whistled through the cracks in the windows.

4. To emit a shrill, sharp, high-pitched cry, as some birds and other animals.

v.tr.

1. To produce by whistling: whistle a tune.

2. To summon, signal, or direct by whistling: I whistled down a cab. The referee whistled that the play was dead.

3. Sports To signal a rule infraction committed by (a player).

n.

1.

a. A small wind instrument for making whistling sounds by means of the breath.

b. A device for making whistling sounds by means of forced air or steam: a factory whistle.

2. A sound produced by a whistling device or by whistling through the lips.

3. A whistling sound, as of an animal or projectile.

Idioms:

blow the whistle Slang

To expose a wrongdoing in the hope of bringing it to a halt: an attorney who blew the whistle on governmental corruption.

whistle in the dark

To attempt to keep one's courage up.

---

[Middle English whistlen, from Old English hwistlian.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

whistle

(ˈwɪsəl)

vb

1. (Phonetics & Phonology) to produce (shrill or flutelike musical sounds), as by passing breath through a narrow constriction most easily formed by the pursed lips: he whistled a melody.

2. (tr) to signal, summon, or command by whistling or blowing a whistle: the referee whistled the end of the game.

3. (General Engineering) (of a kettle, train, etc) to produce (a shrill sound) caused by the emission of steam through a small aperture

4. (intr) to move with a whistling sound caused by rapid passage through the air

5. (Zoology) (of animals, esp birds) to emit (a shrill sound) resembling human whistling

6. whistle in the dark to try to keep up one's confidence in spite of fear

n

7. (Tools) a device for making a shrill high-pitched sound by means of air or steam under pressure

8. a shrill sound effected by whistling

9. a whistling sound, as of a bird, bullet, the wind, etc

10. a signal, warning, command, etc, transmitted by or as if by a whistle

11. the act of whistling

12. (Instruments) music any pipe that is blown down its end and produces sounds on the principle of a flue pipe, usually having as a mouthpiece a fipple cut in the side

13. (Brewing) wet one's whistle informal to take an alcoholic drink

14. blow the whistle (usually foll by on) informal

a. to inform (on)

b. to bring a stop (to)

[Old English hwistlian; related to Old Norse hvīsla]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

whis•tle

(ˈʰwɪs əl, ˈwɪs-)

v. -tled, -tling,
n. v.i.

1. to make a high clear musical sound or a series of such sounds by forcing the breath through puckered lips or through the teeth.

2. to produce sounds resembling a whistle, as by blowing on some device.

3. to emit a call like a whistle: birds whistling in the shrubbery.

4. to produce a similar sound when actuated by steam or the like: The teapot whistles.

5. to move with a whistling sound, as a bullet or the wind.

v.t.

6. to produce by whistling: to whistle a tune.

7. to call, direct, or signal by or as if by whistling: He whistled his dog over.

8. to send with a whistling or whizzing sound.

n.

9. an instrument for producing whistling sounds by various means, as by the breath through a small tin tube or through a device with an air chamber containing a small ball.

10. a sound produced by whistling.

Idioms:

1. blow the whistle, to expose crime or other wrongdoing.

2. blow the whistle on, to expose (wrongdoing or wrongdoers).

3. wet one's whistle, to take a drink.

4. whistle Dixie, to indulge in unrealistically optimistic fantasies.

5. whistle in the dark, to try to remain brave in the face of danger or adversity.

[before 950; Middle English; Old English hwistlian; akin to Old Norse hvīsla to whistle, hviskra to whisper]

whis′tle•a•ble, adj.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

whistle

• fipple flute - The same as a recorder or flageolet—a flute blown from one end like a whistle.
• pistol - Derives from a Czechoslovakian word meaning "whistle," and evolved into the name of the firearm because of a resemblance in shape.
• lanyard - The cord holding a whistle.
• quill - The whistle of a steam engine.

Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

whistle

Past participle: whistled
Gerund: whistling

Imperative

whistle

whistle

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	whistle - the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture whistling sound - the sudden occurrence of an audible event; "the sound awakened them"
	2.	whistle - the act of signalling (e.g., summoning) by whistling or blowing a whistle; "the whistle signalled the end of the game" whistling signal, signaling, sign - any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message; "signals from the boat suddenly stopped"
	3.	whistle - a small wind instrument that produces a whistling sound by blowing into it wind instrument, wind - a musical instrument in which the sound is produced by an enclosed column of air that is moved by the breath
	4.	whistle - acoustic device that forces air or steam against an edge or into a cavity and so produces a loud shrill sound acoustic device - a device for amplifying or transmitting sound boat whistle - a whistle on a boat that is sounded as a warning factory whistle - a whistle at a factory that is sounded to announce times for starting or stopping work signaling device - a device used to send signals steam whistle - a whistle in which the sound is produced by steam; usually attached to a steam boiler
	5.	whistle - an inexpensive fipple flute     pennywhistle, tin whistle fipple flute, fipple pipe, vertical flute, recorder - a tubular wind instrument with 8 finger holes and a fipple mouthpiece
Verb	1.	whistle - make whistling sounds; "He lay there, snoring and whistling" sound, go - make a certain noise or sound; "She went `Mmmmm'"; "The gun went `bang'"
	2.	whistle - move with, or as with, a whistling sound; "The bullets whistled past him" go, locomote, move, travel - change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically; "How fast does your new car go?"; "We travelled from Rome to Naples by bus"; "The policemen went from door to door looking for the suspect"; "The soldiers moved towards the city in an attempt to take it before night fell"; "news travelled fast"
	3.	whistle - utter or express by whistling; "She whistled a melody" communicate, intercommunicate - transmit thoughts or feelings; "He communicated his anxieties to the psychiatrist"
	4.	whistle - move, send, or bring as if by whistling; "Her optimism whistled away these worries" move, displace - cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense; "Move those boxes into the corner, please"; "I'm moving my money to another bank"; "The director moved more responsibilities onto his new assistant"
	5.	whistle - make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound; "the kettle was singing"; "the bullet sang past his ear" sing sound, go - make a certain noise or sound; "She went `Mmmmm'"; "The gun went `bang'"
	6.	whistle - give a signal by whistling; "She whistled for her maid" signal, signalise, signalize, sign - communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs; "He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture"; "The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Translations

تَصْفُر الرّيحصَفَّارَةصُفّارة الشُّرْطي أو الحَكَم الرِّياضيصَفير الآلَةِ الموسيقيَّهصَفير، صَفْرَه

pískatpíšťalka

fløjtefløjtenhvislepiftensuse

PfeifepfeifenPfiffFlöteflöten

σφυρίζωσφυρίχτρασφύριγμα

silbatosilbarsilbidopitidopito

vihellysviheltäävislauspilli

sifflersiffletsifflotementsiffloterpipeau

zviždukzviždaljkazviždati

elfütyülfüttyszófütyülsípsivít

blístrablístra, flautablísturflautahvína

fischiettofischiofischiareflautopuoi sognartelo!

口笛口笛を吹く笛

호루라기휘파람을 불다

birbynėšvilpukas

aizsvilptsvilpesvilpienssvilpotsvilpt

fluitenfluitjefluittoon

plystreplystringfløyte

gwizdekgwizdnąćgwizd

apitoassobiarassobio

свистсвистетьсвистнутьсвистокнасвистывать

hvizdhvízdaťpískaťpíšťalka

piščalkapiskatižvižgžvižgati

pištaljkazviždaljkazviždanjezviždatizvižduk

visslavisslingpipavisselpipa

นกหวีดผิวปาก

ıslıkıslık çalmakıslık/vınn sesi çıkarmakvınlayarak esmekdüdük

huýt sáotiếng huýt sáo

口哨吹口哨吹哨子呼啸而过哨笛

whistle

[ˈwɪsl]

A. N

1. (= sound) → silbido m, chiflido m (esp LAm)
final whistle → pitido m final

2. (= instrument) → silbato m, pito m
blast on the whistle → pitido m
the referee blew his whistle → el árbitro pitó
to blow the whistle on sb (= denounce) → delatar a algn; (= put a stop to) → poner fin a las actividades de algn

B. VT → silbar
to whistle a tune → silbar una melodía
I'm not just whistling Dixie (US) → no hablo en broma, no me estoy marcando ningún farol

C. VI → silbar, chiflar (esp LAm) (Sport) → pitar, silbar
the boys whistle at the girls → los chicos silban a las chicas
the crowd whistled at the referee → el público silbó al árbitro
he whistled for his dog → llamó a su perro con un silbido
the referee whistled for a foul → el árbitro pitó una falta
the bullet whistled past my ear → la bala pasó silbando muy cerca de mi oreja
he can whistle for it → lo pedirá en vano

whistle up VT + ADV

1. to whistle up one's dog → llamar a su perro con un silbido

2. (= find) → encontrar, hacer aparecer

3. (= rustle up) [+ meal] → preparar, servir

4. (= get together) [+ people] → reunir

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

whistle

[ˈ^hwɪs^əl]

n

(= sound) → sifflement m
to give a whistle → pousser un sifflement
a whistle of surprise → un sifflement de surprise

(= object) → sifflet m
to blow the whistle → donner un coup de sifflet
to blow one's whistle → siffler
The referee blew his whistle → L'arbitre a sifflé.

to blow the whistle on sb/sth (= report wrongdoing) → dénoncer qn/qch

clean as a whistle → propre comme un sou neuf

vi

[person] → siffler

[kettle, train] → siffler
to whistle past sth/sb → siffler au-dessus de qch/qn
Bullets whistled past his head → Les balles sifflaient au-dessus de sa tête.

vt → siffler, siffloter
He whistled a tune → Il sifflota un air.whistle-blower whistleblower [ˈ^hwɪs^əlbləʊə^r] n → dénonciateur/trice m/fwhistle-blowing whistleblowing [^hwɪs^əlˌbləʊɪŋ] n → dénonciation fwhistle-stop [^hwɪs^əlstɒp] adj
to make a whistle-stop tour of sth [politician] → faire la tournée électorale des petits patelins de qch

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

whistle

n

(= sound) → Pfiff m; (of wind) → Pfeifen nt; (of kettle) → Pfeifton m; the whistle of the escaping steam → das Pfeifen des ausströmenden Dampfes; to give a whistle → einen Pfiff ausstoßen

(= instrument) → Pfeife f; to blow a/one’s whistle → pfeifen; to blow the whistle on somebody/something (fig inf) → über jdn/etw auspacken (inf); to be as clean as a whistle (= clean) → blitzsauber sein; (fig also) → eine schneeweiße Weste haben ? wet VT

vt → pfeifen; to whistle (to) somebody to stop → jdn durch einen Pfiff stoppen; to whistle somebody back/over etc → jdn zurück-/herüberpfeifen etc

vi → pfeifen; the boys whistled at her → die Jungen pfiffen ihr nach; the crowd whistled at the referee → die Menge pfiff den Schiedsrichter aus; he whistled for a taxi → er pfiff ein Taxi heran, er pfiff nach einem Taxi; the referee whistled for a foul → der Schiedsrichter pfiff ein Foul; the referee whistled for play to stop → der Schiedsrichter pfiff eine Spielunterbrechung; (at the end) → der Schiedsrichter pfiff das Spiel ab; he can whistle for it (inf) → da kann er lange warten, da kann er warten, bis er schwarz wird (inf)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

whistle

[ˈwɪsl]

1. n (sound) → fischio; (instrument) → fischietto
the referee blew his whistle → l'arbitro fischiò
the police searched him, but he was as clean as a whistle → la polizia lo ha perquisito ma lui era pulito
the handle broke off as clean as a whistle → il manico si è staccato di netto
to blow the whistle on (inform on) → fare una soffiata su

2. vt to whistle a tune → fischiettare un motivetto

3. vi (gen) → fischiare; (in low tone) → fischiettare
he whistled for a taxi → fischiò per fermare un taxi
the referee whistled for a foul → l'arbitro fischiò un fallo
the bullet whistled past my ear → la pallottola mi fischiò vicino all'orecchio
he's whistling in the dark (fig) → lo fa (or dice) per darsi coraggio
he can whistle for it! (fig) (fam) → se lo può sognare!

whistle up vt + adv (taxi, dog) → fare un fischio a

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

whistle

(ˈwisl) verb

1. to make a shrill, often musical, sound by forcing one's breath between the lips or teeth. Can you whistle?; He whistled to attract my attention; He whistled a happy tune. fluit يَصْفُر свиря assobiar hvízdat pfeifen fløjte σφυρίζωsilbar vilistama سوت زدن viheltää siffler לִשרוֹק सीटी बजाना zviždati (el)fütyül bersiul blístra fischiare 口笛を吹く 휘파람을 불다 švilpti svilpt; svilpot bersiul fluitenplystregwizdaćassobiar a fluiera свистеть pískať (si) žvižgati zviždati vissla ผิวปาก ıslık çalmak 吹口哨 свистіти; насвистувати منھ سے سیٹی کی آواز نکالنا thổi sáo 吹口哨

2. to make such a sound with a device designed for this. The electric kettle's whistling; The referee whistled for half-time. fluit, blaas fluitjie يُسْمِعُ صَوْتا كالصَّفير свиря assobiar (za)pískat pfeifen fløjte σφυρίζωsilbar, pitar vilistama سوت viheltää siffler לִשרוֹק सीटी बजाना zviždati sípol meniup peluit blístra, flauta fischiare ぴゅーと鳴らす 휘파람 같은 소리를 내다 švilpti svilpt membunyikan peluit fluitenplystre, fløyte, pipegwizdać, odgwizdać assobiar a fluiera давать свисток (za)pískať (za)piskati zviždati vissla, pipa, blåsa ทำให้เกิดเสียงหวีดหวิว düdük çalmak 吹哨子 свистіти سیٹی بجانا thổi còi 吹哨子

3. to make a shrill sound in passing through the air. The bullet whistled past his head. fluit يَئِزُّ الرَّصاص свистя assobiar hvízdnout pfeifen suse σφυρίζωpasar silbando vihisema صفیر viheltää passer en sifflant לִשרוֹק गुजरते वक्त तीखी आवाज निकालना prozujati, prozviždati (el)fütyül mendesing hvína fischiare ひゅーと飛ぶ 핑 하고 소리내며 날아가다 zvimbti []svilpt berdesing fluitenhvine, pipegwizdnąćassobiar a şu­iera проноситься со свистом (za)hvižďať, (za)svišťať žvižgati fijukati vissla, vina ทำให้เกิดเสียงหวีดหวิว ıslık/vınn sesi çıkarmak 呼嘯而過 пролітати зі свистом ہوا میں تیزی سے گزرنے سے نکلنے والی آواز réo (đạn) 呼啸而过

4. (of the wind) to blow with a shrill sound. fluit تَصْفُر الرّيح свиря assobiar hvízdat pfeifen suse σφυρίζωsilbar lõõtsuma زوزه ulvoa siffler לִשרוֹק तीखी आवाज के साथ बहना hujati fütyül melengking hvína fischiare ぴゅーと吹く 윙윙[쉿쉿] 소리를 내다 švilpti svilpot menderu kuat gierenule, pipegwizdaćassobiar a sufla свистеть hvízdať žvižgati fijukati vina พัดให้เกิดเสียงหวีดหวิว vınlayarak esmek 風嘯 свистіти ہوا کا تیز آواز کے ساتھ بہنا rít (gió) 风啸

noun

1. the sound made by whistling. He gave a loud whistle to his friend across the road. fluit صَفير، صَفْرَه свирване assobio hvizd der Pfiff fløjten; piften σφύριγμαsilbido, pitido vile صدای سوت vihellys siffletשריקה सीटी zvižduk fütyülés siulan blístur fischio 口笛の音 휘파람 švilpimas svilpiens siulan gefluitplystring; fløyting, pip gwizdassobio fluierat свист hvizd žvižg zvižduk vissling เสียงผิวปาก ıslık 口哨聲 свист سیٹی کی آواز tiếng sáo 口哨

2. a musical pipe designed to make a whistling noise. fluit صَفير الآلَةِ الموسيقيَّه свирка assobio píšťala die Pfeife fløjte σφυρίχτραsilbato, pito vilepill فلوت pilli pipeauמשרוקית सीटी zviždaljka síp suling flauta zufolo 笛 피리 švilpukas, švilpynė, birbynė svilpe peluit fluitfløyte fujarka assobio fluier свисток píšťala piščal zviždaljka flöjt ขลุ่ย düdük 哨笛 свисток ایک پاءپ جس سے سیٹی کی آواز نکلتی ہے cái sáo 哨笛

3. an instrument used by policemen, referees etc to make a whistling noise. The referee blew his whistle at the end of the game. fluitjie صُفّارة الشُّرْطي أو الحَكَم الرِّياضي свирка apito píšťalka die Pfeife fløjte σφυρίχτραsilbato, pito vile سوت pilli siffletמשרוקית सीटी zviždaljka síp peluit flauta fischietto 呼び子 호각 švilpukas svilpe wisel fluitjefløytegwizdek apito fluierat свисток píšťalka piščalka zviždaljka visselpipa นกหวีด düdük 哨子 свисток سیٹی cái còi 警笛

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

whistle

→ صَفَّارَة, يَصْفِرُ pískat, píšťalka fløjte Pfeife, pfeifen σφυρίζω, σφυρίχτρα silbar, silbato vihellys, viheltää siffler, sifflet zviždati, zvižduk fischiare, fischietto 口笛, 口笛を吹く 호루라기, 휘파람을 불다 fluiten, fluitje fløyte, plystre gwizdek, gwizdnąć apito, assobiar свист, свистеть vissla, vissling นกหวีด, ผิวปาก ıslık, ıslık çalmak huýt sáo, tiếng huýt sáo 口哨, 吹口哨

Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

whis·tle

n. silbido;

v. silbar.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012