whine Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a complaint uttered in a plaintive whining way
    whimper.
  2. verb move with a whining sound
    • The bullets were whining past us
  3. verb talk in a tearful manner
    snivel.
  4. verb make a high-pitched, screeching noise
    skreak; screech; squeak; creak; screak.
    • The door creaked when I opened it slowly
    • My car engine makes a whining noise
  5. verb complain whiningly
    yawp; grizzle; yammer.

WordNet

Whine intransitive verb
Etymology
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.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Whined ; present participle & verbal noun Whining
Definitions
  1. 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 transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To utter or express plaintively, or in a mean, unmanly way; as, to whine out an excuse.
Whine noun
Definitions
  1. A plaintive tone; the nasal, childish tone of mean complaint; mean or affected complaint.

Webster 1913