trill

Meaning

Noun

1. 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.
2. A type of consonantal sound that is produced by vibrations of the tongue against the place of articulation: for example, Spanish ⟨rr⟩, /r/.
3. A tremulous high-pitched vocal sound produced by cats.

Verb

1. 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.
2. To impart the quality of a trill to; to utter as, or with, a trill.

Verb

To trickle.

Verb

To twirl.

Adj

True, respected.

Synonyms

warble

shake

quaver

sing

chirp

chirrup

twitter

yodel

yodle

pipe

stridulate

cheep

flourish

gobble

leak

mew

mordent

neigh

ooze

palpitation

roar

seep

tremble

tremor

tremulousness

trickle

trilling

tweet

tweeter

whinny

whistle

threeling

whitter

bray

rolled sound

burr

burst

carol

chant

chatter

coloratura

croak

croon

dribble

drip

drop

Pronounced as (IPA)

/tɹɪl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: trillen

Cognate with German: trillern

Cognate with Norwegian: trille

Cognate with Swedish: trilla

In summary

From Middle English trillen, from Italian trillo, trillare. Compare German trillern, Norwegian trille, Swedish trilla.