/ ˈwɪmpə(r); NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
to make low, weak crying noises; to speak in this way :
[ v ]
The child was lost and began to whimper.
[ v speech ]
'Don't leave me alone,' he whimpered.
■ noun
a low weak cry that a person or an animal makes when they are hurt, frightened or sad ( figurative )
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WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent.: from dialect whimp to whimper , of imitative origin.