First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1warble
noun war·ble \ˈwȯr-bəl\
Definition of WARBLE
1
: a melodious succession of low pleasing sounds
2
: a musical trill
3
: the action of warbling
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Origin of WARBLE
Middle English werble tune, from Old French (Picard dialect), from werbler to sing expressively, trill, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch wervelen to turn, Old High German wirbil whirlwind — more at whirl
2warble
verb
of a bird : to sing a song that has many different notes
: to sing (something) especially with a high or shaky voice
war·bledwar·bling \-b(ə-)liŋ\
Full Definition of WARBLE
intransitive verb
1
: to sing in a trilling manner or with many turns and variations
2
: to become sounded with trills, quavers, and rapid modulations in pitch
3
: sing
transitive verb
: to render with turns, runs, or rapid modulations : trill
See warble defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of WARBLE
14th century
3warble
noun
Definition of WARBLE
1
: a swelling under the skin especially of the back of cattle, horses, and wild mammals caused by infestation with maggots of a botfly or warble fly
2
: the maggot of a warble fly
— war·bled \-bəld\ adjective
Origin of WARBLE
perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to obsolete Swedish varbulde boil, from var pus + bulde swelling
First Known Use: circa 1585
WARBLE Defined for Kids
1warble
noun war·ble \ˈwȯr-bəl\
Definition of WARBLE for Kids
1
: low pleasing sounds that form a melody (as of a bird)
2
: the action of making low pleasing sounds that form a melody
2warble
verb
war·bledwar·bling
Definition of WARBLE for Kids
: to sing a melody of low pleasing sounds
Medical Dictionary
warble
noun war·ble \ˈwȯr-bəl\
Medical Definition of WARBLE
1
: a swelling under the hide especially of the back of cattle, horses, and wild mammals caused by the maggot of a botfly or warble fly
2
: the maggot of a warble fly
—war·bled \-bəld\ adjective
Learn More About WARBLE
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