yelp β to give a short, sharp cry, especially of pain or alarm
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to give a short, sharp cry, especially of pain or alarm
Pronunciation (IPA): /jelp/
Example Sentences
- The student let out a yelp when the teacher announced a surprise test
- She yelped as the cold water hit her back
- The comedian's joke made the audience member yelp with laughter
yelp
VERB[/jelp/]
to give a short, sharp cry, especially of pain or alarm
to give a short, sharp cry, especially of pain or alarm
When the whelp starts to yelp, mama comes to help!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
π€Pronunciation
π³Etymology
Origin
Yelp derives from Old English 'giellan', meaning 'to yell' or 'to shout'. Through Middle English evolution, the word developed onomatopoetic qualities, coming to specifically denote sudden, sharp cries characteristic of animals such as dogs.
Breakdown
Old English 'giellan' (to yell/shout) β Middle English 'yellen' β Modern English 'yelp'. The shift from giellan to yelp involved sound changes typical of English phonetic development, with the word retaining its vocalization root while narrowing to express sharp, abrupt cries.
π΅Rhyme
πCollocations
πExamples
βThe student let out a yelp when the teacher announced a surprise testβ
βShe yelped as the cold water hit her backβ
βThe comedian's joke made the audience member yelp with laughterβ
βHe yelped when he saw his credit card billβ
πRelated Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.