Standard Lemma guide

warble

noun · verb · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

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

Pronunciation

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.

  • General-American: /ˈwɔɹbl̩/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈwɔːbl̩/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)bəl
  • CMU ARPABET: W AO1 R B AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The sound of one who warbles; singing with trills or modulations.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

In naval mine warfare, the process of varying the frequency of sound produced by a narrowband noisemaker to ensure that the frequency to which the mine will respond is covered.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A lesion under the skin of cattle, caused by the larva of a bot fly of genus Hypoderma.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A small hard swelling on a horse's back, caused by the galling of the saddle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To modulate a tone's frequency.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To sing like a bird, especially with trills.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To cause to quaver or vibrate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To be quavered or modulated; to be uttered melodiously.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

a lumpy abscess under the hide of domestic mammals caused by larvae of a botfly or warble fly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: animal disease

10

verb

Meaning 10

sing by changing register; sing by yodeling

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The Austrians were yodeling in the mountains

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: yodel, descant

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sing

11

verb

Meaning 11

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.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: trill, quaver

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sing

History

Etymology

Perhaps onomatopoeic.

From Middle English werble (at least for the noun), from Frankish *werbel (mole cricket), cognate to Walloon waerbea.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: varron — lesion under the skin of cattle, caused by the larva of a bot fly
  • French: varon — lesion under the skin of cattle, caused by the larva of a bot fly
  • German: Dasselbeule — lesion under the skin of cattle, caused by the larva of a bot fly
  • Walloon: waerbea — lesion under the skin of cattle, caused by the larva of a bot fly
  • Walloon: waerbåd — lesion under the skin of cattle, caused by the larva of a bot fly
  • Bulgarian: чуруликам (čurulikam) — to sing like a bird, especially with trills
  • Finnish: livertää — to sing like a bird, especially with trills
  • Italian: cinguettare — to sing like a bird, especially with trills
  • Japanese: さえずる (saezuru) — to sing like a bird, especially with trills
  • Māori: wheko — to sing like a bird, especially with trills
  • Portuguese: gorjear — to sing like a bird, especially with trills
  • Russian: щебета́ть (ščebetátʹ) — to sing like a bird, especially with trills
  • Russian: залива́ться (zalivátʹsja) — to sing like a bird, especially with trills
  • Russian: издавать трели — to sing like a bird, especially with trills
  • Scottish Gaelic: ceileir — to sing like a bird, especially with trills
  • Spanish: trinar — to sing like a bird, especially with trills
  • Welsh: telori — to sing like a bird, especially with trills
  • Welsh: trilio — to sing like a bird, especially with trills