TRILL


Meaning of TRILL in English

I. ˈtril verb

Etymology: Middle English; akin to Middle Dutch trillen to vibrate, Swedish trilla to roll

Date: 14th century

intransitive verb

1. : to flow in a small stream or in drops : trickle

2. : twirl , revolve

transitive verb

: to cause to flow in a small stream

II. noun

Etymology: Italian trillo probably of imitative origin

Date: 1649

1.

a. : the alternation of two musical tones a diatonic second apart — called also shake

b. : vibrato

c. : a rapid reiteration of the same tone especially on a percussion instrument

2. : a sound resembling a musical trill : warble

3.

a. : the rapid vibration of one speech organ against another (as of the tip of the tongue against the teethridge)

b. : a speech sound made by a trill

III. verb

Date: circa 1667

intransitive verb

: to play or sing with a trill : quaver

transitive verb

: to utter as or with or as if with a trill

trill the r

• trill·er noun

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.