whine /waɪn/ BrE AmE verb
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: hwinan 'to move through the air with a loud sound' ]
1 . [intransitive and transitive] to complain in a sad annoying voice about something SYN moan :
Oh Charlotte, please stop whining.
‘I don’t understand,’ whined Rose.
whine about
The sergeant was whining about how hard he had been forced to work recently.
2 . [intransitive] to make a long high sound because you are in pain or unhappy:
He could hear the dog whining behind the door.
3 . [intransitive] if a machine whines, it makes a continuous high sound
—whine noun [countable] :
The baby’s howl turned to a high-pitched whine.
the whine of a vacuum cleaner
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ complain to say that you are annoyed, unhappy, or not satisfied about something or someone:
Several customers complained about the service they received.
|
‘I wish you’d stop telling me what to do,’ she complained.
▪ make a complaint to formally complain about something to someone in authority:
His parents made a complaint to the head teacher.
▪ protest to complain about something that you think is wrong, especially publicly:
Demonstrators were protesting against the war.
▪ object to say that you oppose or disapprove of something:
Local residents have objected to the plan.
|
Some teachers objected to the scheme.
▪ grumble to keep complaining in a bad-tempered way about something:
Rail travellers have been grumbling about the increase in ticket prices.
|
What’s he grumbling about now?
▪ moan/whine informal ( also whinge /wɪndʒ/ British English informal ) to keep complaining in an annoying way:
Everyone was moaning about the hotel food.
|
Stop whingeing and get on with your work!
▪ kick up/make a fuss to complain or become angry about something, especially something that is not very important:
The soup wasn’t hot enough, but he didn’t want to make a fuss.
|
He kicked up such a fuss that they were offered another room.