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Cry vs Whine - What's the difference?

cry | whine |

In intransitive terms the difference between cry and whine

is that cry is to utter inarticulate sounds, as animals do while whine is to move with a whining sound.

In transitive terms the difference between cry and whine

is that cry is to cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping while whine is to utter with the sound of a whine.

cry

English

Verb

(en-verb)
  • To shed tears; to weep.
  • That sad movie always makes me cry .
  • To utter loudly; to call out; to declare publicly.
  • * Shakespeare
  • All, all, cry shame against ye, yet I'll speak.
  • * Bunyan
  • The man ran on, crying , Life! life! Eternal life!
  • (ambitransitive) To shout, scream, yell.
  • * Bible, Matthew xxvii. 46
  • And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice.
  • To utter inarticulate sounds, as animals do.
  • * Bible, Psalms cxlvii. 9
  • the young ravens which cry
  • * Shakespeare
  • In a cowslip's bell I lie / There I couch when owls do cry .
  • To cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping.
  • to cry oneself to sleep
  • To make oral and public proclamation of; to notify or advertise by outcry, especially things lost or found, goods to be sold, etc.
  • to cry goods
  • * Crashaw
  • Love is lost, and thus she cries him.
  • Hence, to publish the banns of, as for marriage.
  • * Judd
  • I should not be surprised if they were cried in church next Sabbath.

    Synonyms

    * weep * See also * See also

    Antonyms

    * laugh

    Derived terms

    * crybaby * cry in one's beer * cry like a baby * cry one's eyes out * cry off * cry out * cry someone a river * cry the blues * cry wolf * don't cry over spilt milk * kiss and cry

    Noun

    (cries)
  • A shedding of tears; the act of crying.
  • After we broke up, I retreated to my room for a good cry .
  • A shout or scream.
  • I heard a cry from afar.
  • Words shouted or screamed.
  • a battle cry
  • (collectively) A group of hounds.
  • * Shakespeare
  • A cry more tunable / Was never hollaed to, nor cheered with horn.
    (Milton)
  • (obsolete, derogatory) A pack or company of people.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Would not this get me a fellowship in a cry of players?
  • (ambitransitive, of an animal) A typical sound made by the species in question.
  • "Woof" is the cry of a dog, while "neigh" is the cry of a horse.
  • A desperate or urgent request.
  • (obsolete) Common report; gossip.
  • * Shakespeare
  • The cry goes that you shall marry her.

    Derived terms

    * battle cry * hue and cry * war cry

    See also

    * breastfeeding * crocodile tears

    References

    * * *

    Statistics

    *

    whine

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • a long-drawn, high-pitched complaining cry or sound
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=June 26 , author=Genevieve Koski , title=Music: Reviews: Justin Bieber: Believe , work=The Onion AV Club citation , page= , passage=The 18-year-old Bieber can’t quite pull off the “adult” thing just yet: His voice may have dropped a bit since the days of “Baby,” but it still mostly registers as “angelic,” and veers toward a pubescent whine at times. }}
  • a complaint or criticism
  • Verb

    (whin)
  • To utter a high-pitched cry.
  • To make a sound resembling such a cry.
  • The jet engines whined at take off.
  • To complain or protest with a whine or as if with a whine.
  • To move with a whining sound.
  • The jet whined into the air.
  • To utter with the sound of a whine.
  • The child whined all his complaints.
    Kelly Queen was whining that the boss made him put on his tie.

    Synonyms

    * See also