(~s, whistling, ~d)
1.
When you ~ or when you ~ 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 ~d a tune.
VERB: V, V n
2.
When someone ~s, they make a sound by forcing their breath out between their lips or their teeth. People sometimes ~ when they are surprised or shocked, or to call a dog, or to show that they are impressed.
He ~d, surprised but not shocked...
Jenkins ~d through his teeth, impressed at last...
VERB: V, V prep
•
Whistle is also a noun.
Jackson gave a low ~.
N-COUNT: oft supp N
see also wolf-~
3.
If something such as a train or a kettle ~s, it makes a loud, high sound.
Somewhere a train ~d...
...the whistling car radio.
VERB: V, V-ing
whistling
...the whistling of the wind.
N-SING: oft the N of n
4.
If something such as the wind or a bullet ~s somewhere, it moves there, making a loud, high sound.
The wind was whistling through the building...
As I stood up a bullet ~d past my back.
VERB: V prep, V prep
5.
A ~ 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 ~ of a train.
...the ~ of the wind.
N-COUNT: oft N of n
6.
A ~ 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 ~...
N-COUNT
7.
A ~ is a simple musical instrument in the shape of a metal pipe with holes.
N-COUNT
see also tin ~
8.
If you blow the ~ 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 ~ on dishonest workmates and work practices.
= inform
PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR on n
see also ~-blower
9.
If you describe something as clean as a ~, you mean that it is completely clean.
PHRASE: v-link PHR