whistle

noun countable

UK /ˈwɪs(ə)l/

Word Forms

singular	whistle
plural	whistles

1
a small metal or plastic object that you put in your mouth and blow to make a high sound
blow a whistle:
The referee blew the whistle for half-time.
a whistle goes/sounds:
The whistle went for full-time.
Synonyms and related words
Signals and equipment used for warning people
alarm
alarm bell
the all clear
1. 1a
  a piece of equipment that produces a high sound, used as a warning or a signal on a train or a boat, or in a place such as a factory
  a whistle blows:
  The whistle blew as the train prepared to leave.
  Synonyms and related words
  Signals and equipment used for warning people
  alarm
  alarm bell
  the all clear
2. 1b
  a musical instrument consisting of a small metal tube that you blow
  Synonyms and related words
  Musical instruments
  accordion
  air guitar
  baby grand
2
Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬the sound that someone makes when they force air through their mouth
Loud cheers and whistles greeted the team.
give/let out a whistle:
Darren gave a low whistle.
Synonyms and related words
Communicative sounds
applause
a round of applause
a snap of the fingers
1. 2a
  a sound made as a signal or a warning, especially on a boat or a train, or in a place such as a factory
  the ship’s shrill whistle
  Synonyms and related words
  Signals and equipment used for warning people
  alarm
  alarm bell
  the all clear
2. 2b
  the sound that you make by blowing through a whistle
  Play stopped when we heard the whistle.
  the final whistle (=used for showing that a game or competition has finished):
  He scored again just seconds before the final whistle.
  Synonyms and related words
  Short and high sounds
  beep
  bleep
  chirp
3. 2c
  the high sound that some birds make
  the skylark’s piercing whistle
  Synonyms and related words
  Bird sounds
  birdsong
  chatter
  chirp

phrases

as clean as a whistle

blow the whistle (on someone/something)

wet your whistle

whistle

noun countable

US /ˈwɪs(ə)l/US /ˈhwɪs(ə)l/

Word Forms

singular	whistle
plural	whistles

1
a small metal or plastic object that you put in your mouth and blow to make a high sound
blow a whistle:
The referee blew the whistle for half-time.
Synonyms and related words
Signals and equipment used for warning people
alarm
alarm bell
the all clear
1. 1a
  a piece of equipment that produces a high sound, used as a warning or a signal on a train or a boat, or in a place such as a factory
  a whistle blows:
  The whistle blew as the train prepared to leave.
  Synonyms and related words
  Signals and equipment used for warning people
  alarm
  alarm bell
  the all clear
2. 1b
  a musical instrument consisting of a small metal tube that you blow
  Synonyms and related words
  Musical instruments
  accordion
  air guitar
  baby grand
2
Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬the sound that someone makes when they force air through their mouth
Loud cheers and whistles greeted the team.
give/let out a whistle:
Darren gave a low whistle.
Synonyms and related words
Communicative sounds
applause
a round of applause
a snap of the fingers
1. 2a
  a sound made as a signal or a warning, especially on a boat or a train, or in a place such as a factory
  the ship’s shrill whistle
  Synonyms and related words
  Signals and equipment used for warning people
  alarm
  alarm bell
  the all clear
2. 2b
  the sound that you make by blowing through a whistle
  Play stopped when we heard the whistle.
  Synonyms and related words
  Short and high sounds
  beep
  bleep
  chirp
3. 2c
  the high sound that some birds make
  the skylark’s piercing whistle
  Synonyms and related words
  Bird sounds
  birdsong
  chatter
  chirp

phrases

as clean as a whistle

blow the whistle (on someone/something)

wet your whistle

whistle

verb

UK /ˈwɪs(ə)l/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	whistle
he/she/it	whistles
present participle	whistling
past tense	whistled
past participle	whistled

1
intransitive/transitive Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬to make a tune or musical notes by forcing air through your mouth
Sue whistled softly to herself.
I wish you’d stop whistling that tune!
Synonyms and related words
Playing, performing and arranging music
accompany
arrange
articulation
1. 1a
  intransitive/transitive to make a high sound by forcing air through your mouth in order to get someone’s attention, or to show that you like or dislike something
  The spectators jeered and whistled.
  whistle to:
  She whistled softly to her friends.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a high sound
  beep
  bleep
  chime
2. 1b
  intransitive to blow a whistle as a warning or to get someone’s attention
  The referee whistled for a free kick.
  Synonyms and related words
  To warn someone about or against something
  warn
  alert
  tip off
3. 1c
  intransitive if a machine, train, or boat whistles, a piece of equipment on it makes a loud high sound
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a loud sound
  bang
  beep
  blare
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a high sound
  beep
  bleep
  chime
4. 1d
  intransitive if the wind whistles around or through a place, it makes a high sound because it is blowing strongly
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a high sound
  beep
  bleep
  chime
2
intransitive to move or to travel very quickly
Her shot went whistling past the goalpost.
Synonyms and related words
To move somewhere quickly
fly
hasten
speed

phrases

someone can whistle for something

whistling in the dark

whistling in the wind

phrasal verbs

whistle at

whistle

verb

US /ˈwɪs(ə)l/US /ˈhwɪs(ə)l/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	whistle
he/she/it	whistles
present participle	whistling
past tense	whistled
past participle	whistled

1
intransitive/transitive Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬to make a tune or musical notes by forcing air through your mouth
Sue whistled softly to herself.
I wish you’d stop whistling that tune!
Synonyms and related words
Playing, performing and arranging music
accompany
arrange
articulation
1. 1a
  intransitive/transitive to make a high sound by forcing air through your mouth in order to get someone’s attention, or to show that you like or dislike something
  The spectators jeered and whistled.
  whistle to:
  She whistled softly to her friends.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a high sound
  beep
  bleep
  chime
2. 1b
  intransitive if a machine, train, or boat whistles, a piece of equipment on it makes a loud high sound
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a loud sound
  bang
  beep
  blare
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a high sound
  beep
  bleep
  chime
3. 1c
  intransitive if the wind whistles around or through a place, it makes a high sound because it is blowing strongly
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a high sound
  beep
  bleep
  chime
4. 1d
  intransitive to blow a whistle as a warning or to get someone’s attention
  The referee whistled for a time-out.
  Synonyms and related words
  To warn someone about or against something
  warn
  alert
  tip off
2
intransitive to move or to travel very quickly
Her shot went whistling past the net.
Synonyms and related words
To move somewhere quickly
fly
hasten
speed

phrases

someone can whistle for something

whistling in the dark

whistling in the wind

phrasal verbs

whistle at

whistle ​‌

whistle ​‌

whistle ​‌

whistle ​‌

whistle

whistle

whistle

whistle