I. ˈblēt, usu -d.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English bleten, from Old English blǣtan; akin to Old High German blāzan to bleat, Latin flēre to weep, Russian bleyat' to bleat, Old English bellan to roar — more at bellow
intransitive verb
1.
a. of a sheep or goat or sometimes a calf : to utter its natural cry
b. of various animals or man : to make a sound suggestive of the call of a sheep ; sometimes : whimper , whine
a dog cringing and bleating in the cold
2.
a. : to talk complainingly or with a whine
b. : to talk without due consideration : blather
we bleat once a year about peace on earth and goodwill to men — G.B.Shaw
transitive verb
: to utter as though a bleat
bleating their good-nights at the door
often : to utter in a bleating manner
the bigwigs in the Capitol are bleating their fears — Wall Street Journal
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : the cry of a sheep, goat, or calf
b. : any sound similar to or imitative of this cry
2. : whining or foolish talk : blather