chirp

Meaning

Noun

1. A short, sharp or high note or noise, as of a bird or insect.
2. A pulse of signal whose frequency sweeps through a band of frequencies for the duration of the pulse.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To make a short, sharp, cheerful note, as of small birds or crickets; to chitter; to twitter.
2. (intransitive) To speak in a high-pitched staccato.
3. (transitive) To modify (a pulse of signal) so that it sweeps through a band of frequencies throughout its duration.
4. (obsolete, transitive) To cheer up; to make (someone) happier.
5. (Canada) To speak rapid insulting comical banter back and forth; to bicker or argue.
6. (UK, obsolete, slang) To inform on someone; snitch.

Synonyms

twitter

peep

cheep

squeak

warble

sing

chirrup

tweet

chirping

twittering

trill

tweedle

chatter

squeal

creak

caw

call

chirr

crackle

stridulate

whistle

crow

cry

😢

knock

make a sound

mew

neigh

knit

pip

pipe

prattle

purl

rattle

roar

roll off

shout

croak

coo

clitter

click

chitter

chirk

chick

tweeter

call out

bray

bleat

whinny

bang

stridulation

Translations

zwitschern

pépier

kwetteren

piepen

sjilpen

piepen

gazouiller

gorjear

gorjear

zirpen

piar

gazouillis

tjilpen

pépiement

chilrear

Pronounced as (IPA)

/t͡ʃɜːp/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: *chirpen

Cognate with Middle English: chirpinge

In summary

From Middle English *chirpen (attested only in the derivative Middle English chirpinge, cyrpynge, chyrypynge (“chirping”). Compare Middle English chirken and chirmen. More at chirk, chirm. Compare also Middle English chirten (“to smack, chirrup”).