HOWL

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does howl mean? 

• HOWL (noun)
  The noun HOWL has 3 senses:

1. a long loud emotional utterance

2. the long plaintive cry of a hound or a wolf

3. a loud sustained noise resembling the cry of a hound

  Familiarity information: HOWL used as a noun is uncommon.

• HOWL (verb)
  The verb HOWL has 4 senses:

1. emit long loud cries

2. cry loudly, as of animals

3. make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles

4. laugh unrestrainedly and heartily

  Familiarity information: HOWL used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HOWL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A long loud emotional utterance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

howl; howling; ululation

Context example:

their howling had no effect

Hypernyms ("howl" is a kind of...):

utterance; vocalization (the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication)

Derivation:

howl (laugh unrestrainedly and heartily)

howl (emit long loud cries)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The long plaintive cry of a hound or a wolf

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("howl" is a kind of...):

cry (the characteristic utterance of an animal)

Derivation:

howl (cry loudly, as of animals)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A loud sustained noise resembling the cry of a hound

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

the howl of the wind made him restless

Hypernyms ("howl" is a kind of...):

noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "howl"):

squeal (a high-pitched howl)

Derivation:

howl (make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles)

• HOWL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they howl    ... he / she / it howls   
Past simple: howled   
Past participle: howled   
-ing form: howling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Emit long loud cries

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

howl; roar; ululate; wail; yaup; yawl

Context example:

howl with sorrow

Hypernyms (to "howl" is one way to...):

call; cry; holler; hollo; scream; shout; shout out; squall; yell (utter a sudden loud cry)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "howl"):

squall; waul; wawl (make high-pitched, whiney noises)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

howl; howling (a long loud emotional utterance)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cry loudly, as of animals

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

howl; wrawl; yammer; yowl

Context example:

The coyotes were howling in the desert

Hypernyms (to "howl" is one way to...):

emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sentence examples:

You can hear animals howl in the meadows
The meadows howl with animals

Derivation:

howl (the long plaintive cry of a hound or a wolf)

howler (monkey of tropical South American forests having a loud howling cry)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

howl; roar

Context example:

The water roared down the chute

Hypernyms (to "howl" is one way to...):

make noise; noise; resound (emit a noise)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "howl"):

vroom (make a loud, roaring sound, as of a car engine, while moving)

bawl; yawp (make a raucous noise)

thunder (to make or produce a loud noise)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sentence example:

The cars howl down the avenue

Derivation:

howl (a loud sustained noise resembling the cry of a hound)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Laugh unrestrainedly and heartily

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

howl; roar

Hypernyms (to "howl" is one way to...):

express joy; express mirth; laugh (produce laughter)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

howl (a long loud emotional utterance)

howler (a joke that seems extremely funny)

howling (a long loud emotional utterance)

 Context examples 

He had made no noise, yet it ceased from its howling and tried to sense his presence.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

“But if it is going to howl, and there are only two of us?” I asked, a note of protest in my voice.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The wind howled and screamed at the windows.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I have not yet seen a servant anywhere, or heard a sound near the castle except the howling of wolves.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

All this was the nervous and muscular preliminary to howling.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

They all ran forward and passed under the tree without injury, except Toto, who was caught by a small branch and shaken until he howled.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

With the bursting open of the door, the noise of their howling had increased tremendously.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Then said the boy: “What a clever Elsie we have!” and sat down by her, and likewise began to howl loudly.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Suddenly, however, his eyes dropped upon his food, and he gave a howl of dismay.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He gave an interview to Reuter's, and there was such a howl that he saw it wouldn't do.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)