whistle
whis|tle /hw'ɪsəl/ (whistles whistling whistled)
1 [VERB] V, V n
When you whistle or when you whistle a tune, you make a series of musical notes by forcing your breath out between your lips, or your teeth.
He was whistling softly to himself...
As he washed he whistled a tune.
2 [VERB] V, V prep
When someone whistles, they make a sound by forcing their breath out between their lips or their teeth. People sometimes whistle when they are surprised or shocked, or to call a dog, or to show that they are impressed.
He whistled, surprised but not shocked...
Jenkins whistled through his teeth, impressed at last...
[N-COUNT] oft supp N
Whistle is also a noun.
Jackson gave a low whistle.
see also wolf-whistle
3 [VERB] V, V-ing
If something such as a train or a kettle whistles, it makes a loud, high sound.
Somewhere a train whistled...
...the whistling car radio.
● whistling [N-SING] oft the N of n
...the whistling of the wind.
4 [VERB] V prep, V prep
If something such as the wind or a bullet whistles somewhere, it moves there, making a loud, high sound.
The wind was whistling through the building...
As I stood up a bullet whistled past my back.
5 [N-COUNT] oft N of n
A whistle is a loud sound produced by air or steam being forced through a small opening, or by something moving quickly through the air.
Hugh listened to the whistle of a train.
...the whistle of the wind.
6 [N-COUNT]
A whistle is a small metal tube which you blow in order to produce a loud sound and attract someone's attention.
On the platform, the guard blew his whistle...
7 [N-COUNT]
A whistle is a simple musical instrument in the shape of a metal pipe with holes.
see also tin whistle
8 [PHRASE] V inflects, usu PHR on n
If you blow the whistle on someone, or on something secret or illegal, you tell another person, especially a person in authority, what is happening.
Companies should protect employees who blow the whistle on dishonest workmates and work practices.
see also whistle-blower
= inform
9 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you describe something as clean as a whistle, you mean that it is completely clean.tin whis|tle (tin whistles)
[N-COUNT]
A tin whistle is a simple musical instrument in the shape of a metal pipe with holes. Tin whistles make a high sound and are often used in folk music, for example Irish music.
1 [VERB] V, V n
When you whistle or when you whistle a tune, you make a series of musical notes by forcing your breath out between your lips, or your teeth.
He was whistling softly to himself...
As he washed he whistled a tune.
2 [VERB] V, V prep
When someone whistles, they make a sound by forcing their breath out between their lips or their teeth. People sometimes whistle when they are surprised or shocked, or to call a dog, or to show that they are impressed.
He whistled, surprised but not shocked...
Jenkins whistled through his teeth, impressed at last...
[N-COUNT] oft supp N
Whistle is also a noun.
Jackson gave a low whistle.
see also wolf-whistle
3 [VERB] V, V-ing
If something such as a train or a kettle whistles, it makes a loud, high sound.
Somewhere a train whistled...
...the whistling car radio.
● whistling [N-SING] oft the N of n
...the whistling of the wind.
4 [VERB] V prep, V prep
If something such as the wind or a bullet whistles somewhere, it moves there, making a loud, high sound.
The wind was whistling through the building...
As I stood up a bullet whistled past my back.
5 [N-COUNT] oft N of n
A whistle is a loud sound produced by air or steam being forced through a small opening, or by something moving quickly through the air.
Hugh listened to the whistle of a train.
...the whistle of the wind.
6 [N-COUNT]
A whistle is a small metal tube which you blow in order to produce a loud sound and attract someone's attention.
On the platform, the guard blew his whistle...
7 [N-COUNT]
A whistle is a simple musical instrument in the shape of a metal pipe with holes.
see also tin whistle
8 [PHRASE] V inflects, usu PHR on n
If you blow the whistle on someone, or on something secret or illegal, you tell another person, especially a person in authority, what is happening.
Companies should protect employees who blow the whistle on dishonest workmates and work practices.
see also whistle-blower
= inform
9 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you describe something as clean as a whistle, you mean that it is completely clean.tin whis|tle (tin whistles)
[N-COUNT]
A tin whistle is a simple musical instrument in the shape of a metal pipe with holes. Tin whistles make a high sound and are often used in folk music, for example Irish music.