WHINE

whimper, whine

(noun) a complaint uttered in a plaintive whining way

whine, grizzle, yammer, yawp

(verb) complain whiningly

snivel, whine

(verb) talk in a tearful manner

whine

(verb) move with a whining sound; “The bullets were whining past us”

whine, squeak, screech, creak, screak, skreak

(verb) make a high-pitched, screeching noise; “The door creaked when I opened it slowly”; “My car engine makes a whining noise”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

whine (plural whines)

a long-drawn, high-pitched complaining cry or sound

(derogatory) a complaint or criticism

Verb

whine (third-person singular simple present whines, present participle whining, simple past and past participle whined)

(intransitive) To utter a high-pitched cry.

(intransitive) To make a sound resembling such a cry.

(intransitive) To complain or protest with a whine or as if with a whine.

(intransitive) To move with a whining sound.

(transitive) To utter with the sound of a whine.

Synonyms

• See also complain

Source: Wiktionary


Whine, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Whined; p. pr. & vb. n. Whining.] Etym: [OE. whinen, AS. hwinan to make a whistling, whizzing sound; akin to Icel. hvina, Sw. hvina, Dan. hvine, and probably to G. wiehern to neigh, OHG. wihn, hweijn; perhaps of imitative origin. Cf. Whinny, v. i.]

Definition: To utter a plaintive cry, as some animals; to mean with a childish noise; to complain, or to tell of sorrow, distress, or the like, in a plaintive, nasal tone; hence, to complain or to beg in a mean, unmanly way; to moan basely. "Whining plovers." Spenser. The hounds were . . . staying their coming, but with a whining accent, craving liberty. Sir P. Sidney. Dost thou come here to whine Shak.

Whine, v. t.

Definition: To utter or express plaintively, or in a mean, unmanly way; as, to whine out an excuse.

Whine, n.

Definition: A plaintive tone; the nasal, childish tone of mean complaint; mean or affected complaint.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

31 May 2025

AMATORY

(adjective) expressive of or exciting sexual love or romance; “her amatory affairs”; “amorous glances”; “a romantic adventure”; “a romantic moonlight ride”


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Coffee Trivia

Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.

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