whistle1 verbwhistle2 noun
whistlewhis‧tle1 /ˈwɪsəl/ ●●○ verb 
VERB TABLE
whistle
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | whistle |
| he, she, it | whistles | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | whistled |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have whistled |
| he, she, it | has whistled | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had whistled |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will whistle |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have whistled |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am whistling |
| he, she, it | is whistling | |
| you, we, they | are whistling | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was whistling |
| you, we, they | were whistling | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been whistling |
| he, she, it | has been whistling | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been whistling |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be whistling |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been whistling |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A bullet whistled past his left cheek.
- Fans yelled and whistled when the band came on stage.
- He stacked crates one on top of the other, whistling as he did so.
- The kettle was whistling on the stove.
- You've been whistling that tune all day.
- Lucie whistled sharply to catch her attention, then beckoned her over to stand beside him.
- She turned, and another something whistled past her ear.
- So I went to school and sat in class and memorized more than understood and whistled past the academic graveyard.
- The audience hooted, whistled, and laughed.
- The ideas, the whistling words, they throbbed in all the senses.
- When I got home he was already in his room, whistling away cheerfully.
- You belong on your own block, where I can whistle for you.
Longman Language Activatorto make a musical sound without words
to make musical sounds with your voice, but with your mouth closed: · She hummed softly to herself as she worked.· Musicals are uplifting, and you are sure to leave the theatre humming a cheerful tune.
to make musical sounds by blowing air out between your lips: · He stacked crates one on top of the other, whistling as he did so.· You've been whistling that tune all day.
WORD SETSauk, nounbald eagle, nounbeak, nounbill, nounbird, nounbirdie, nounbird of paradise, nounbird of passage, nounbird of prey, nounbirdsong, nounblackbird, nounbluebird, nounbluejay, nounbobwhite, nounbreast, nounbuzzard, nouncackle, verbchick, nounclaw, nouncob, nouncock, nouncockerel, nouncockscomb, nouncolouring, nouncondor, nouncoo, verbcoot, nouncormorant, nouncorncrake, nouncrane, nouncrest, nouncrested, adjectivecrop, nouncrow, nouncrow, verbcuckoo, nouncurlew, nouncygnet, noundickybird, noundipper, noundive, verbdodo, noundove, noundown, nounduck, nounduckling, nouneagle, nouneaglet, nounegret, nounemu, nounfeather, nounflamingo, nounfledgling, nounflight, nounfly, verbflycatcher, nounfowl, noungander, noungannet, noungizzard, noungobble, verbgobbler, noungolden eagle, noungoldfinch, noungoose, noungrebe, noungrouse, nounguillemot, nounguinea fowl, nounhackles, nounhatch, verbhawk, nounheron, nounhonk, nounhonk, verbhoot, nounhoot, verbhornbill, nounhouse martin, nounhumming bird, nounincubate, verbjackdaw, nounjay, nounkestrel, nounkingfisher, nounkite, nounkiwi, nounlark, nounlay, verblinnet, nounloon, nounlovebird, nounmacaw, nounmagpie, nounmallard, nounmarabou, nounmartin, nounmeadowlark, nounmigrant, nounmockingbird, nounmoorhen, nounmoult, verbmynah bird, nounnest, nounnest, verbnestling, nounnightingale, nounoriole, nounornithologist, nounornithology, nounosprey, nounostrich, nounowl, nounowlet, nounparakeet, nounparrot, nounpartridge, nounpeacock, nounpeafowl, nounpeahen, nounpeck, verbpeck, nounpeewit, nounpelican, nounpenguin, nounperch, nounperch, verbperegrine falcon, nounpetrel, nounpipit, nounplover, nounplumage, nounplume, verbpullet, nounquail, nounquill, nounraven, nounroadrunner, nounrobin, nounrook, nounroost, nounroost, verbrooster, nounruff, nounsandpiper, nounseabird, nounseagull, nounshag, nounsing, verbskylark, nounsnipe, nounsong, nounsongbird, nounsongster, nounsparrow, nounstarling, nounswallow, nounswan, nounswift, nounswoop, verbtalon, nounteal, nountern, nounthrush, nountit, nountoucan, nountrill, nounturkey, nounturtledove, nountwitter, verbvulture, nounwader, nounwagtail, nounwarble, verbwarbler, nounwater bird, nounwaterfowl, nounwebbed, adjectiveweb-footed, adjectivewhistle, verbwing, nounwinged, adjectivewingspan, nounwingtip, nounwishbone, nounwren, nounyellowhammer, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
He whistled a tune as he strolled down the corridor. They listened to the wind whistling through the trees.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The final whistle (=blown at the end of a game) was only seconds away when Redknapp equalised.
He whistled a tune as he strolled down the corridor. They listened to the wind whistling through the trees. (=moves fast making a noise)· I heard a bullet whistle past me.
(=very clean)· The place was clean as a whistle.
The final whistle (=blown at the end of a game) was only seconds away when Redknapp equalised. (=a noise with a particular kind of sound)· The water moved through the pipes with a loud gurgling noise.
· She was humming a little tune to herself.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· He shrugged his shoulders and whistled softly to himself.· Juron whistled softly at the sight.· I whistle softly, then throw it across the carpets towards the windows.· Cranston knelt down next to them and whistled softly through his teeth.· A man's outline appeared hesitantly out of the mist, and then the first of their pursuers turned and whistled softly.· He used a wooden spoon to stir the mixture, whistling softly.· He was glad she was happy and whistled softly to himself as he tied his tie.
NOUN· Cranston knelt down next to them and whistled softly through his teeth.· Piercing, piercing whistling rasping through teeth, could easily be heard over engine.
· But equally often he'd collapse in the middle of a sentence or whistling a tune.· Thought I was going to die, and then twenty-four hours later I was whistling show tunes.· The stranger was swinging his umbrella and whistling that infuriating tune.· I listened hard and there was only the sound of the pool man whistling a tune to himself.· In fact, Henry can whistle one tune which makes them all want to follow him.· A deckhand on the ferry from Brooklyn whistled the tune, and the words floated up from nowhere.· From that moment Tess found she could whistle tunes to the birds just as Mrs d'Urberville wanted.· He whistled a tune as he strolled down the corridor.
· The wind is whistling up this and within seconds my face is frozen.· The wind whistled up round the corner past the supermarket to Stormy Hill.· Outside, the wind whistled thinly along the fluted tiles and stirred the open window sash.· The wind seems to whistle through the doors and windows.· And that wind nuzzling and whistling at the double-glazed window.· He pulled his cap down over his eyes but the wind whistled bitterly through his ears.
VERB· The kettle began to whistle, breaking into her train of thought.· Downstairs the kettle began to whistle.· But now as he rode he began to whistle beneath his breath, perhaps unconsciously.· He even began to whistle a tune under his breath.
· We could hear it whistling down the chimney, and howling all around the house.· I could feel the air and I could hear their whistling noise; yet none of these bullets touched me.· Presently, he heard the breath whistle in her throat, a gasp, a tiny groan.· I could hear him whistling a long way behind.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1high sound [intransitive, transitive] to make a high or musical sound by blowing air out through your lips: - I'm just whistling in the dark on this one - I could really use some help.
- You belong on your own block, where I can whistle for you.
- A few honest policemen were willing to blow the whistle on the captain.
- Anyone who tried to blow the whistle on the violence was intimidated or threatened.
- He claims the two are separate enough that he was in the clear to blow the whistle on the Rialto Theater project.
- Not withstanding that risk, under the Constitution, the judiciary is in the best position to blow the whistle on runaway majorities.
- So, why not blow the whistle on a thoroughly corrupt system sooner?
- Staff members have little interest in blowing the whistle on this situation.
- The report will question why medical staff working with him did not blow the whistle on his activities.
- There were even rebelliously honest policemen, who might blow the whistle on the dishonest ones.
- With great courage, Vasseur has blown the whistle on an unacceptable situation.
- In twenty-four hours she has been on a whistle-stop tour of three countries.
- No more whistle-stop tours of the newest shopping centre in Nuneaton to look forward to.
Adam whistled happily on his way to work. I heard this song on the radio and I’ve been whistling it all day. He whistled a tune as he strolled down the corridor.whistle to somebody (=whistle to get someone’s attention) Dad whistled to us to come home for dinner.whistle at somebody (=whistle to let someone know that you think they are attractive) Men are always whistling at Heidi on the street.2use a whistle [intransitive] to make a high sound by blowing into a whistle: The referee whistled and the game began.3go/move fast [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move quickly, making a whistling sound: Bullets and shells were whistling overhead. They listened to the wind whistling through the trees.4steam train/kettle [intransitive] if a steam train or kettle whistles, it makes a high sound when air or steam is forced through a small hole5bird [intransitive] if a bird whistles, it makes a high musical sound6be whistling in the dark informal to be trying to show that you are brave when you are afraid, or that you know about something when you do not: Does he know what he’s talking about or is he just whistling in the dark?7somebody can whistle for something British English spoken used to tell someone that there is no chance of them getting what they have asked forwhistle1 verbwhistle2 noun
whistlewhistle2 ●●○ noun [countable] WORD ORIGINwhistle2
Origin:
Old English hwistleEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Ashley heard the whistle of the ax as it swung by.
- Carry a whistle and a spare length of rope which can be used for towing others or making repairs.
- From the direction of the North River came the long piercing stab of a steam whistle.
- Just before the whistle blew Vernon thought she had seen him; at any rate she was looking in his direction.
- No bells, no whistles, no dancing bears.
- Suddenly, all over Illinois, train whistles began blowing in the middle of the night.
- The boy gave a high whistle and was joined by another.
- There was the whistle of a bomb which got nearer and nearer.
Longman Language Activatorto tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone has done
to tell someone in authority, especially a parent or teacher, about something wrong that someone has done - used by children: · I'm going to tell if you don't stop messing around.· Please don't tell on me -- Mum thinks I've been staying at my friend's house.
also split on somebody British informal to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone has done, especially when this seems disloyal: · Can you believe he ratted on his own brother?· Don't worry, Robert's reliable. He won't split on us.
British /tattle (on somebody) American if a child tells tales or tattles on someone, they tell a parent or teacher about something another child has done in order to cause trouble: · "Mum, Daniel's broken a plate." "Don't tell tales, dear."· Sarah's teacher told her it was silly to keep tattling on her classmates.· You'll lose all your friends if you keep tattling.
to give information about a crime, an accident etc to the police or to someone in authority: · I'd like to report a theft.report something to somebody: · All accidents must be reported at once to the aviation authority.· Many rape victims are too scared to report the attack to the police.report somebody (for something): · A man has been reported for a number of alleged motoring offences.
to secretly tell the police that someone you know has done something illegal: · Charlotte informed on her brother, who was then arrested for drug-dealing.· He categorically denied that he had ever informed on dissidents.
British informal /squeal American informal to tell the police who is responsible for a crime or illegal activity when this seems disloyal: · When we got there the cops were waiting for us. Somebody must have squealed.grass on: · If the others ever found out he'd squealed on them, they'd kill him.· You grassed on us to save your own life.grass somebody up: · I don't trust her -- what if she grasses us up?
to give the police information about a crime that you know about or are involved in, especially when they are questioning you officially about it: · The suspect was questioned for two hours, but refused to talk.· He said he'd come back and kill me if I talked.
to let people know about an illegal activity which has been happening for a long time, especially when you have been helping to keep it secret: · He was shot because he knew too much and was about to blow the whistle. blow the whistle about: · It was the factory manager who eventually blew the whistle about the pollution scandal.blow the whistle on: · We'd better get her before she has a chance to blow the whistle on us.
to give the police or another authority information that will allow them to prevent a crime taking place: tip off somebody: · Somebody must have tipped off the police. They were already waiting at the house.· The alert was started by another inmate who tipped off prison staff.tip somebody off: · I wonder who tipped them off.tip somebody off that: · His contact had not merely tipped him off that drugs were on the premises, he had told him where to look.
to make public the names of people who have done something wrong: · If you don't give me the money, I'm going to start naming names.· Someone -- I won't name names -- has been caught stealing from the stores.
especially British, informal /narc especially American, informal to secretly tell the police or someone in authority about someone else's criminal activity, especially activities involving illegal drugs: · "How'd they get caught?" "Somebody must've narked."nark on: · If things get too risky, Ken'll probably narc on you to the cops.
WORD SETSablaze, adjectiveacoustic, adjectiveacoustics, nounaglow, adjectivebaa, verbbabble, verbbabble, nounbabel, nounbaby talk, nounbackfire, verbbackground, nounbang, nounbang, verbbang, interjectionbark, verbbark, nounbattle cry, nounbay, verbbeat, verbbeat, nounbellow, verbbellow, nounblare, verbblast, nounbleat, verbbleep, nounbleep, verbblip, nounbong, nounboom, nounboom, verbbowwow, interjectionbrassy, adjectivebray, verbbrazen, adjectivebreathy, adjectivebubble, verbbump, nounchatter, verbchatter, nounclink, verbclink, nouncrack, verbcrack, nouncrackle, verbcrackling, nouncrash, verbcrash, nouncreak, verbcreaky, adjectivecroak, verbcroak, nouncrow, nouncrow, verbcrunch, nouncrunch, verbding-dong, noundiscord, noundiscordant, adjectivedrone, verbdrone, noundrown, verbdrum, verbdrumbeat, noundrumming, noundull, adjectiveecho, verbecho, nounfizz, verbflat, adjectivefootfall, nounfootstep, nounfusillade, noungrinding, adjectivegroan, verbgroan, noungrunt, verbgrunt, nounguffaw, verbgunshot, nounguttural, adjectivehigh, adjectivehigh, adverbhiss, verbindistinct, adjectiveirregular, adjectivelow, verbmarbled, adjectivematching, adjectivemellow, adjectivemelodic, adjectivemelodious, adjectivemetallic, adjectivemoan, verbmoan, nounmodulate, verbmonotone, nounmoo, verbmurmur, verbmurmur, nounmusical, adjectivemusically, adverbmute, verbnasal, adjectivenoise, nounoink, interjectionoof, interjectionpatter, verbpatter, nounpeal, nounpeal, verbpenetrating, adjectivepercussion, nounpsychedelic, adjectivepulse, nounputter, verbquack, verbquack, nounquaver, nounracket, nounrasp, verbrasp, nounraspberry, nounrat-a-tat, nounrattle, nounraucous, adjectivereedy, adjectivereport, nounresonance, nounresonant, adjectiveresonate, verbresonator, nounresound, verbresounding, adjectivereverberate, verbreverberation, nounrich, adjectivering, nounring, verbringing, adjectiveripple, verbripple, nounroar, nounroaring, adjectiveroll, verbrough, adjectiverustle, verbrustle, nounscratch, verbscratch, nounscream, verbscream, nounscrunch, verbsmoky, adjectivesnarl, verbsoft, adjectivesoft-spoken, adjectivesonorous, adjectivesotto voce, adverbsplosh, verbsweet, adjectiveswoosh, verbtick-tock, nountinny, adjectivetonal, adjectivevivid, adjectivevowel, nounwail, verbweak, adjectivewhack, nounwham, interjectionwhine, verbwhinny, verbwhirr, verbwhistle, verbwhistle, nounyelp, nounyowl, verbzoom, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The lifeguard blew his whistle. Sanders gave a low whistle when he saw the contents of the box.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The final whistle (=blown at the end of a game) was only seconds away when Redknapp equalised.
The lifeguard blew his whistle. Sanders gave a low whistle when he saw the contents of the box. (=moves fast making a noise)· I heard a bullet whistle past me.
(=very clean)· The place was clean as a whistle.
The final whistle (=blown at the end of a game) was only seconds away when Redknapp equalised. (=a noise with a particular kind of sound)· The water moved through the pipes with a loud gurgling noise.
· She was humming a little tune to herself.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· A steep, wall as clean as a whistle, without a scrap of vegetation.· The place was clean as a whistle.· Let's say Rivera's as clean as a whistle, but who checks out Vargas?
· By the final whistle he'd done the sensible thing and switched to Gazza.· Only minutes before the final whistle, Halliday weaved his way infield, causing the disruption from which Morris was to score.· United, leading 3-0 at the time, conceded two goals at the final whistle.· Howey led the City celebrations after the final whistle of a game which may mean so much to them.· The Final, played on Sunday, proved to be a cliff-hanger right up to the final whistle.· At the final whistle, Souness and Dalglish politely embraced.· Just before the final whistle, former Leeds player Gary Divorty grabbed a consolation try, converted by stand-off Bishop.· No sooner had Derek Bevan blown the final whistle at Twickenham, than faint noises could be heard from over the horizon.
· She was still pondering on this mystery when a low whistle came from the other side of the ditch.· I start with a low whistle, twist it, pitch it higher and thinner till the kestrel treads air.· From the stalls nearby came applause and low whistles of appreciation.· Like his uniformed colleague, Schiller gave a low whistle when he saw the contents of the master bedroom.
· A shrill whistle is blown angrily by a shivering soldier, a sentry at the tomb.· Flora gave a shrill whistle and started trotting down the cliff.· A shrill whistle could be discerned, audible above the scrape and screech of the music.· Call a series of fluty piping notes, also a shrill whistle.· The policeman was blowing a shrill whistle.· Then he put his fingers in his mouth and let out a shrill whistle.
NOUN· The older man plays an accordion, and the younger one plays a tin whistle in the musical interlude.· She might as well have had a tin whistle buried in that neck of hers.· I walked up to one young guy in full get-up playing the tin whistle near the Harness and Saddle maker store.
· He heard the train whistle, the engine was slowing for a signal then he heard it pick up speed again.· Suddenly, all over Illinois, train whistles began blowing in the middle of the night.· The train whistle blew at the same moment and her scream was drowned in it.· I heard the sound of the train whistle as the train pulled into Montpelier Junction.· A train whistle or siren has a higher pitch as the train approaches than when it recedes.· The train whistle was deep and spoke with an ominous voice.
· When the wolf whistles came though, I decided I wasn't after all.· She jumped visibly at his wolf whistle.
VERB· The boy gave a high whistle and was joined by another.· Flora gave a shrill whistle and started trotting down the cliff.· Like his uniformed colleague, Schiller gave a low whistle when he saw the contents of the master bedroom.· You wait until they're looking your way and then give a whistle or call.
· He heard the train whistle, the engine was slowing for a signal then he heard it pick up speed again.· Three times a day we hear steam whistles, and here and there are columns of smoke rising.· Suddenly I heard a piercing whistle that seemed to resound through the whole universe.· I heard some one whistle through two fingers and looked up front toward the flight leader.· The decision may have been harsh, however, because it appeared he had not heard the whistle.· Analysis Answer the following questions together: Can you hear the whistle / whisper distinctly through the cube?· Somewhere in the distance he could hear the infuriating whistle.· I heard the whistle of the bullet by my head, because it was quite close.
· The driver braked hard and sounded the whistle, but the man ignored the warning and disappeared under the train.· During the night a train has failed to sound its whistle.· There has been a breach of duty by an engine driver in failing to sound his whistle.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1- A few honest policemen were willing to blow the whistle on the captain.
- Anyone who tried to blow the whistle on the violence was intimidated or threatened.
- He claims the two are separate enough that he was in the clear to blow the whistle on the Rialto Theater project.
- Not withstanding that risk, under the Constitution, the judiciary is in the best position to blow the whistle on runaway majorities.
- So, why not blow the whistle on a thoroughly corrupt system sooner?
- Staff members have little interest in blowing the whistle on this situation.
- The report will question why medical staff working with him did not blow the whistle on his activities.
- There were even rebelliously honest policemen, who might blow the whistle on the dishonest ones.
- With great courage, Vasseur has blown the whistle on an unacceptable situation.
- In twenty-four hours she has been on a whistle-stop tour of three countries.
- No more whistle-stop tours of the newest shopping centre in Nuneaton to look forward to.
a small object that produces a high whistling sound when you blow into it: The lifeguard blew his whistle.2a high sound made by blowing a whistle, by blowing air out through your lips, or when air or steam is forced through a small opening: Larsson scored just minutes before the final whistle.low/shrill/high-pitched etc whistle Sanders gave a low whistle when he saw the contents of the box.3a piece of equipment on a train or boat that makes a high noise when air is forced through it4the sound of something moving quickly through the airwhistle of We could hear the whistle of the jets as they passed overhead. → blow the whistle on something at blow1(17), → clean as a whistle at clean1(1), penny whistle, wolf whistle