trill (redirected from trills)

trill  (trl)

n.

1. A fluttering or tremulous sound, as that made by certain birds; a warble.

2. Music

a. The rapid alternation of two tones either a whole or a half tone apart.

b. A vibrato.

3. Linguistics

a. A rapid vibration of one speech organ against another, as of the tongue against the alveolar ridge in Spanish rr.

b. A speech sound pronounced with such a vibration.

v. trilled, tril·ling, trills

v.tr.

1. To sound, sing, or play with a trill.

2. To articulate (a sound) with a trill.

v.intr.

To produce or give forth a trill.

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[Italian trillo, from trillare, to trill, probably ultimately of imitative origin.]

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trill¹

n

1. (Music, other) Music a melodic ornament consisting of a rapid alternation between a principal note and the note a whole tone or semitone above it. Usual symbol tr., tr (written above a note)

2. a shrill warbling sound, esp as made by some birds

3. (Linguistics / Phonetics & Phonology) Phonetics

a.  the articulation of an (r) sound produced by holding the tip of the tongue close to the alveolar ridge, allowing the tongue to make a succession of taps against the ridge

b.  the production of a similar effect using the uvula against the back of the tongue

vb

1. to sound, sing, or play (a trill or with a trill)

2. (Linguistics / Phonetics & Phonology) (tr) to pronounce (an (r) sound) by the production of a trill

[from Italian trillo, from trillare, apparently from Middle Dutch trillen to vibrate]

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trill²

vb & n

an archaic or poetic word for trickle

[probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Norwegian trilla to roll; see trill¹]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	trill - a note that alternates rapidly with another note a semitone above it shake musical note, note, tone - a notation representing the pitch and duration of a musical sound; "the singer held the note too long"
	2.	trill - the articulation of a consonant (especially the consonant `r') with a rapid flutter of the tongue against the palate or uvula; "he pronounced his R's with a distinct trill" articulation - the aspect of pronunciation that involves bringing articulatory organs together so as to shape the sounds of speech
Verb	1.	trill - pronounce with a trill, of the phoneme `r'; "Some speakers trill their r's" enounce, enunciate, pronounce, sound out, articulate, say - speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way; "She pronounces French words in a funny way"; "I cannot say `zip wire'"; "Can the child sound out this complicated word?"
	2.	trill - sing or play with trills, alternating with the half note above or below warble, quaver sing - produce tones with the voice; "She was singing while she was cooking"; "My brother sings very well"

Translations

trill [trɪl]

A. N [of bird] → gorjeo m, trino m; [of phone] → sonido m, ring-ring m (Mus) → trino m (Phon) [of "R"] → vibración f

B. VI [bird] → gorjear, trinar; [phone] → sonar

C. VT

1. (Phon) → hacer vibrar
to trill one's Rs → hacer vibrar las erres
trilled R → erre vibrada

2. (= say) "how adorable!," she trilled → -¡qué encantador! -gorjeó

trill

n

(of bird) → Trillern nt; (of voice) → Tremolo nt

(Mus) → Triller m

(Phon) → Rollen nt, → rollende Aussprache

vt

(person) → trällern

(Mus) note → trillern

(Phon) consonant → rollen, rollend aussprechen

vi

(bird) → trillern, tirilieren (geh); (person) → trällern

(Mus) → trillern

trill [trɪl] n (of bird) (Mus) → trillo

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trill [trɪl] n (of bird) (Mus) → trillo