(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
If someone ~s, they make long, loud, high-pitched cries which express sorrow or pain.
The women began to ~ in mourning.
...a mother ~ing for her lost child.
VERB: V, V for n
•
Wail is also a noun.
Wails of grief were heard as visitors filed past the site of the disaster.
N-COUNT: oft N of n
2.
If you ~ something, you say it in a loud, high-pitched voice that shows that you are unhappy or in pain.
‘Now look what you’ve done!’ Shirley ~ed...
Primrose, stupefied by tiredness, began to ~ that she was hungry.
VERB: V with quote, V that, also V about n
3.
If something such as a siren or an alarm ~s, it makes a long, loud, high-pitched sound.
Police cars, their sirens ~ing, accompanied the lorries...
VERB: V
•
Wail is also a noun.
The ~ of the bagpipe could be heard in the distance.
N-UNCOUNT: oft N of n
~ing
Our artillery opened up and we heard a fearful ~ing and screeching.
N-UNCOUNT