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Whistle vs Warble - What's the difference?

whistle | warble |

In intransitive terms the difference between whistle and warble

is that whistle is to move in such a way as to create a whistling sound while warble is to be quavered or modulated; to be uttered melodiously.

In transitive terms the difference between whistle and warble

is that whistle is to send, signal, or call by a whistle while warble is to cause to quaver or vibrate.

As nouns the difference between whistle and warble

is that whistle is a device designed to be placed in the mouth in order, or driven by steam or otherwise, to make a whistling sound while warble is in naval mine warfare, the process of varying the frequency of sound produced by a narrow band noisemaker to ensure that the frequency to which the mine will respond is covered.

As verbs the difference between whistle and warble

is that whistle is to make a shrill, high-pitched sound by forcing air through the mouth. To produce a whistling sound, restrictions to the flow of air are created using the teeth, tongue and lips while warble is to modulate a tone's frequency.

whistle

Noun

(en noun)
  • A device designed to be placed in the mouth in order, or driven by steam or otherwise, to make a whistling sound.
  • An act of whistling.
  • A shrill, high-pitched sound made by whistling.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=We expressed our readiness, and in ten minutes were in the station wagon, rolling rapidly down the long drive, for it was then after nine.
  • Any high-pitched sound similar to the sound made by whistling.
  • the whistle of the wind in the trees
  • (Cockney rhyming slang) A suit (from whistle and flute ).
  • * 2005 , Wally Payne, A Minority of One: A Monkey's Tale Continued
  • We soldiers changed into our No.1 dress uniforms, Sid into his best whistle and we set off for the church.
  • The mouth and throat; so called as being the organs of whistling.
  • * Walton
  • Let's drink the other cup to wet our whistles .

    Derived terms

    * bells and whistles * * it's not the whistle that pulls the train * wet one's whistle * whistle-blower * whistle pig * whistle-stop * whistle walk

    Verb

    (whistl)
  • (ambitransitive) To make a shrill, high-pitched sound by forcing air through the mouth. To produce a whistling sound, restrictions to the flow of air are created using the teeth, tongue and lips.
  • Never whistle at a funeral.
    She was whistling a happy tune.
  • To move in such a way as to create a whistling sound.
  • A bullet whistled past.
  • To send, signal, or call by a whistle.
  • * Addison
  • He chanced to miss his dog; we stood still till he had whistled him up.

    Derived terms

    * whistle Dixie * whistle in the dark * whistle past the graveyard

    See also

    * (wikipedia "whistle")

    warble

    English

    Etymology 1

    Verb

    (warbl)
  • To modulate a tone's frequency.
  • To sing like a bird, especially with trills.
  • To cause to quaver or vibrate.
  • * Milton
  • touch the warbled string
  • To be quavered or modulated; to be uttered melodiously.
  • * (rfdate) Gay
  • Such strains ne'er warble in the linnet's throat.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (military) In naval mine warfare, the process of varying the frequency of sound produced by a narrow band noisemaker to ensure that the frequency to which the mine will respond is covered.
  • Etymology 2

    From Middle English werble, (at least for the noun) from (etyl) werbel (mole cricket), cognate to Walloon waerbea.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A lesion under the skin of cattle, caused by the larva of a bot fly of genus Hypoderma .
  • Derived terms

    * warble fly

    Anagrams

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