to make a clear musical sound, a series of such sounds, or a high-pitched, warbling sound by the forcible expulsion of the breath through a small opening formed by contracting the lips, or through the teeth, with the aid of the tongue.
to make such a sound or series of sounds otherwise, as by blowing on some device.
to emit similar sounds from the mouth, as birds do.
(of a device) to produce a similar sound when actuated by steam or the like: This teakettle whistles when it boils.
to move, go, pass, etc., with a whistling or whizzing sound, as a bullet or the wind.
verb (used with object),whis·tled,whis·tling.
to produce by whistling: to whistle a tune.
to call, direct, or signal by or as by whistling: He whistled his dog over.
to send with a whistling or whizzing sound.
noun
an instrument for producing whistling sounds by means of the breath, steam, etc., as a small wooden or tin tube, a pipe, or a similar device with an air chamber containing a small ball that oscillates when air is forced through an opening, producing a high-pitched, warbling tone.
a sound produced by whistling: a prolonged whistle of astonishment.
a simple fipple flute.
Verb Phrases
whistle for,to demand or expect without success: After promising to pay, he told us we could whistle for our money.
Idioms for whistle
blow the whistle, to expose the existence of mischief or wrongdoing: The agent was taking bribes until someone finally blew the whistle.
blow the whistle on,
to bring a stop to; halt: Congress has blown the whistle on all unnecessary expenditures for the program.
to expose (wrongdoing or wrongdoers): to blow the whistle on corruption in high places.
wet one's whistle, Informal. to take a drink.
whistle in the dark, to attempt to summon up one's courage or optimism in a difficult situation: He says his business will improve next year, but he's probably just whistling in the dark.
Origin of whistle
before 950; (v.) Middle English whistlen,Old English hwistlian; akin to Old Norse hvīsla to whistle, hviskra to whisper; see whine; (noun) Middle English; Old English hwistle instrument, akin to the v.
OTHER WORDS FROM whistle
whis·tle·a·ble,adjectivein·ter·whis·tle,verb (used with object),in·ter·whis·tled,in·ter·whis·tling.un·whis·tled,adjective
Words nearby whistle
whispering gallery, whisperous, whispery, whist, whist drive, whistle, whistle-blower, whistle Dixie, whistle for, whistle in the dark, whistle pig
Root cells release malic acid, which acts like a shepherd’s whistle.
Junk Food Is Bad For Plants, Too - Issue 90: Something Green|Anne Biklé & David R. Montgomery|September 23, 2020|Nautilus
Influencers, who are paid by brands to promote their products to their thousands of followers, generally agree that Reels lacks some of the bells and whistles of TikTok.
Instagram’s would-be TikTok killer, Reels, struggles to gain traction|Danielle Abril|September 22, 2020|Fortune
There’s no whistle, bell, or any other serious notification of when the harmless pre-ejaculate ends and the fluids of fatherhood begin.
Does Pre-Confessing Clear You of Sexual Causality?|Eugene Robinson|September 20, 2020|Ozy
Snarky Alexis may have had a ritzy Rolls-Royce, but today’s Sentra—completely redesigned for 2020—offers a lot more bells and whistles.
Snazzy sedans and comfort rides|Joe Phillips|September 19, 2020|Washington Blade
Yet offense continued to rule even once the whistles became less frequent.
Why Have NBA Offenses Been So Good In The Bubble?|Mike Prada|August 20, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
“Clean as a whistle,” says a senior investigator involved in the case.
Exclusive: Inside a Cop-Killer’s Final Hours|Michael Daly|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But admit it: at the first whistle, we all paid attention, to a part of the world that would usually prefer us all to butt out.
Pyongyang Primer: Kenneth Bae Comes Home|Kevin Bleyer|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He is on trial along with three others, and Bogucki is blowing the whistle on government practices he says are not fair play.
A Navy Lawyer Cries Foul on Gitmo’s Kafkaesque Legal System|Eleanor Clift|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Not a lot of air tooting that whistle, no matter what the video would lead viewers to believe.
Anti-Vaxxers Have a New Hero|Russell Saunders|September 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Down Fred went and the ref blew his whistle, piercing Croatian hearts as he pointed to the penalty spot.
Brazil Slips Past Croatia, Thanks to Yuichi Nishimura|Tunku Varadarajan|June 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Captain Jekyl threw away the remnant of his cigar, with a little movement of pettishness, and began to whistle an opera air.
St. Ronan's Well|Sir Walter Scott
I don't know how long I had been asleep, but what made me wake up was the whistle of a locomotive.
Roy Blakeley's Camp on Wheels|Percy Keese Fitzhugh
Their own frantic shouts some time ago, even Sandy's whistle, had been unheard and unheeded.
The Quiver, 1/1900|Anonymous
It was a whistle, and it had such a penetrating quality that Will, at first, thought it was a bird.
The Great Sioux Trail|Joseph Altsheler
I want a chance to see it, and Jack began to whistle a cheerful tune.
Five Thousand Miles Underground|Roy Rockwood
British Dictionary definitions for whistle
whistle
/ (ˈwɪsəl) /
verb
to produce (shrill or flutelike musical sounds), as by passing breath through a narrow constriction most easily formed by the pursed lipshe whistled a melody
(tr)to signal, summon, or command by whistling or blowing a whistlethe referee whistled the end of the game
(of a kettle, train, etc) to produce (a shrill sound) caused by the emission of steam through a small aperture
(intr)to move with a whistling sound caused by rapid passage through the air
(of animals, esp birds) to emit (a shrill sound) resembling human whistling
whistle in the darkto try to keep up one's confidence in spite of fear
noun
a device for making a shrill high-pitched sound by means of air or steam under pressure
a shrill sound effected by whistling
a whistling sound, as of a bird, bullet, the wind, etc
a signal, warning, command, etc, transmitted by or as if by a whistle
the act of whistling
musicany 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
wet one's whistleinformalto take an alcoholic drink
blow the whistle(usually foll by on)informal
to inform (on)
to bring a stop (to)
See also whistle for, whistle up
Word Origin for whistle
Old English hwistlian; related to Old Norse hvīsla