WHISTLE


Meaning of WHISTLE in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ (h)wɪs(ə)l ]

( whistles, whistling, whistled)

1.

When you whistle or when you whistle a tune, you make a series of musical notes by forcing your breath out between your lips, or your teeth.

He was whistling softly to himself...

As he washed he whistled a tune.

VERB : V , V n

2.

When someone whistles , they make a sound by forcing their breath out between their lips or their teeth. People sometimes whistle when they are surprised or shocked, or to call a dog, or to show that they are impressed.

He whistled, surprised but not shocked...

Jenkins whistled through his teeth, impressed at last...

VERB : V , V prep

Whistle is also a noun.

Jackson gave a low whistle.

N-COUNT : oft supp N

see also wolf-whistle

3.

If something such as a train or a kettle whistles , it makes a loud, high sound.

Somewhere a train whistled...

...the whistling car radio.

VERB : V , V-ing

• whis‧tling

...the whistling of the wind.

N-SING : oft the N of n

4.

If something such as the wind or a bullet whistles somewhere, it moves there, making a loud, high sound.

The wind was whistling through the building...

As I stood up a bullet whistled past my back.

VERB : V prep , V prep

5.

A whistle is a loud sound produced by air or steam being forced through a small opening, or by something moving quickly through the air.

Hugh listened to the whistle of a train.

...the whistle of the wind.

N-COUNT : oft N of n

6.

A whistle is a small metal tube which you blow in order to produce a loud sound and attract someone’s attention.

On the platform, the guard blew his whistle...

N-COUNT

7.

A whistle is a simple musical instrument in the shape of a metal pipe with holes.

N-COUNT

see also tin whistle

8.

If you blow the whistle on someone, or on something secret or illegal, you tell another person, especially a person in authority, what is happening.

Companies should protect employees who blow the whistle on dishonest workmates and work practices.

= inform

PHRASE : V inflects , usu PHR on n

see also whistle-blower

9.

If you describe something as clean as a whistle , you mean that it is completely clean.

PHRASE : v-link PHR

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Английский словарь Коллинз COBUILD для изучающих язык на продвинутом уровне.