I. ˈhwīn also ˈwīn verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English whinen, from Old English hwīnan to whiz; akin to Old Norse hvīna to whiz and perhaps to Old Slavic svistati to hiss
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to utter a high-pitched plaintive or distressed cry
hearing the dog whine at the door
tossing and turning, the child whines in its sleep
b. : to make a sound similar to such a cry
the saws buzz and whine — American Guide Series: Maine
sirens whined loud and clear — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
car starters whine and trucks … rattle out — Marjory S. Douglas
c. : to move or proceed with the sound of a whine
mosquitoes whined through the dark — Josephine Johnson
the bullet whined over the heads of the boys — S.H.Holbrook
a taxi whined through the streets — Walter Sorell & Denver Lindley
the wind … whined and moaned through the rigging — Kenneth Roberts
2. : to utter a complaint or lament with or as if with a whine
is not a man to whine and complain; he has too much spirit — Jane Austen
whine about … her troubles — E.A.Weeks
the counteraction of the doctrine of love when that pules and whines — R.W.Emerson
transitive verb
: to utter or express with or as if with a whine
the prisoner whines his innocence
whine the song in nasal tones
whine their troubles to the world
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a prolonged high-pitched cry usually expressive of distress or pain
weak, premature babies will cry with a low feeble whine … like the mewing of a cat — Morris Fishbein
the strange uncontrollable whine of a man weeping — Graham Greene
— compare whimper
b. : a sound resembling such a cry
the whine of the wind and the hiss of the sleety snow — F.V.W.Mason
the whine of the saw biting into a log — American Guide Series: Arkansas
the whine and whistle of bombs — Peter Ustinov
the high-pitched whine of the engines — London Calling
the whine of the Hawaiian boy's guitar — Frances McFadden
2. : a complaint or lament uttered with or as if with a whine
wearied by the unremitting whine of her special pleading — Dwight MacDonald
if your letter is a gripe or whine , it will be brushed off — H.D.Scott
the self-pitying whine of most contemporary fiction — Selden Rodman