howl Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a long loud emotional utterance
    howling; ululation.
    • he gave a howl of pain
    • howls of laughter
    • their howling had no effect
  2. noun the long plaintive cry of a hound or a wolf
  3. noun a loud sustained noise resembling the cry of a hound
    • the howl of the wind made him restless
  4. verb emit long loud cries
    wail; roar; yawl; yaup; ululate.
    • wail in self-pity
    • howl with sorrow
  5. verb cry loudly, as of animals
    wrawl; yowl; yammer.
    • The coyotes were howling in the desert
  6. verb make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
    roar.
    • The wind was howling in the trees
    • The water roared down the chute
  7. verb laugh unrestrainedly and heartily
    roar.

WordNet

Howl intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. houlen, hulen; akin to D. huilen, MHG. hiulen, hiuweln, OHG. hiuwilon to exult, hwo owl, Dan. hyle to howl.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Howled ; present participle & verbal noun Howling
Definitions
  1. To utter a loud, protraced, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do.
    And dogs in corners set them down to howl. Drayton.
    Methought a legion of foul fiends Environ'd me about, and howled in my ears. Shak.
  2. To utter a sound expressive of distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail.
    Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand. Is. xiii. 6.
  3. To make a noise resembling the cry of a wild beast.
    Wild howled the wind. Sir W. Scott.
Howl transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To utter with outcry. "Go . . . howl it out in deserts." Philips.
Howl noun
Definitions
  1. The protracted, mournful cry of a dog or a wolf, or other like sound.
  2. A prolonged cry of distress or anguish; a wail.

Webster 1913