whine
(wīn, hwīn)v. whined, whin·ing, whines
v.intr.1. To produce a sustained, high-pitched, plaintive sound, as in pain, fear, or complaint.
2. To complain or protest in a childish or annoying fashion: fans who are always whining about the poor officiating.
3. To produce a sustained noise of high pitch: jet engines whining.
v.tr. To utter with a whine.
n.1. The act of whining: the dog's whine for food.
2. A whining sound: the whine of the dentist's drill.
3. A complaint uttered in a sustained, high-pitched tone: decided to ignore the children's whines.
[Middle English whinen, from Old English hwīnan, to make a whizzing sound.]
whin′er n.
whin′ing·ly adv.
whin′y, whin′ey adj.
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.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj. | 1. | whiney - habitually complaining; "a whiny child" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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