twitter Hear it!

twitter¹ Definition

twit·ter (twit′ər)

intransitive verb

  1. to make a series of light, sharp, intermittent vocal sounds; chirp continuously or tremulously, as birds do
    1. to talk in a rapid, tremulous manner expressive of agitation, timidity, etc.; chatter
    2. to giggle or titter
  3. to tremble with excitement, eagerness, etc.

Etymology: ME twiteren, akin to Ger zwitschern: orig. echoic

transitive verb

to express or say in a twittering manner

noun

  1. a light, sharp, intermittent vocal sound of a bird; chirping
  2. any similar sound
  3. a condition of trembling excitement; flutter

twitter¹ Related Forms
twit′·terer noun twit′·tery adjective
twitter² Definition

twit·ter (twit′ər)

noun

a person who twits

twitter Synonyms

twitter

v.

sing, chirp, whistle, peep, cheep, coo.

twitter Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • bird: The city park was silent except for the twittering of birds, eager to find food.
  • swallow: April 14 th 1915 The twittering of swallows was welcome at Borley on Monday, the cuckoo was heard a fortnight ago.

Object

  • bird: You sink back to sleep, lulled by the sound of the lapping sea and the twittering birds.
  • song: A warbling, twittering song; call a twittering ' chi chi chi chi ' When to see it All year round.
  • call: Listen out for the twittering call which sounds pretty identical to Goldfinch but isn't.
  • sound: Before emerging in the flight the bats utter a curious twittering sound.
  • hirundines: We had good close views of a male Downy Woodpecker and many Hirundines twittered in a tree.
  • noise: It sounds like a twittering noise in the background and is consequently sometimes known as ' birdies ' .

Noun used with modifier

  • bird: A young bird twitters And hides its head; A little wind suddenly Breathes, and is dead.

Modifying Another Word

  • away: He never kept still, and could twitter away in all sorts of languages, just like a clever parrot.
  • about: As the Firebird, she twittered about with all the speed of a swallow.

Preposition: in

  • tree: Migrant Monarch butterflies drift by, Great Blue Heron stand in the shallows and Pine Siskins twitter in the trees.
  • background: Birds twitter gently in the background as Iain quite literally tries to charm them from the trees with his sweetest serenade.
twitter Quotes

The smell of buttered toast simply talked toToad, and with no uncertain voice; talked of warm kitchens, of breakfasts on bright frosty mornings, of cosy parlour firesides on winter evenings, when one's ramble was over and slippered feet were propped on the fender; of the purring of contented cats, and the twitter of sleepy canaries.

—Grahame, Kenneth