Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
adj
True; respected.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
Qualifier: African-American Vernacular
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A rapid alternation between an indicated note and the one above it as an ornament; in musical notation usually indicated with the letters tr written above the staff.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A type of consonantal sound that is produced by vibrations of the tongue against the place of articulation: for example, Spanish ⟨rr⟩, /r/.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, phonetics, phonology, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A tremulous high-pitched vocal sound produced by cats.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To create a trill sound; to utter trills or a trill; to play or sing in tremulous vibrations of sound; to have a trembling sound; to quaver.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: warble
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To impart the quality of a trill to; to utter as, or with, a trill.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To trickle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, obsolete
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To twirl.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a note that alternates rapidly with another note a semitone above it
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: shake
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: note, musical note, tone
noun
the articulation of a consonant (especially the consonant `r') with a rapid flutter of the tongue against the palate or uvula
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: articulation
verb
sing or play with trills, alternating with the half note above or below
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: warble, quaver
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: sing
verb
pronounce with a trill, of the phoneme `r'
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: pronounce, articulate, enounce, sound out, enunciate, say
History
Perhaps a blend of true + real, or from keep it real, exhibiting the fill–feel merger.
From Middle English trillen, from Italian trillo, trillare. Compare German trillern, Norwegian trille, Swedish trilla.
Perhaps identical to Etymology 3, but compare the same sense of drill, and German trillen, drillen.
Probably related to Old English þweran (“to twirl, stir”). Compare twirl, thirl, and Swedish trilla, Norwegian trille, etc.
Across languages
63 source translations are retained for this English entry.
