whine

Use whine in a sentence

noun

The definition of a whine is a high-pitched sound.
An example of a whine is the sound a balloon makes as it deflates.

verb

To whine is to complain or make a high-pitched sound.
1. An example of to whine is to get upset when you can’t find a good parking space.
2. An example of to whine is to make a sound of complaint using your nose.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"whine." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/whine>.

APA Style

whine. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/whine

whine

intransitive verb

whined, whin′ing

1. to utter a peevish, high-pitched, somewhat nasal sound, as in complaint, distress, or fear
2. to make a prolonged, high-pitched sound like this
to complain or beg in a childishly undignified way, as with a whine

Origin of whine

Middle English whinen from Old English hwinan, akin to Old Norse hvina from Indo-European base an unverified form ?wei-, to whiz, hiss from source whistle, whisper

to utter with or as with a whine

the act or sound of whining
a complaint uttered in a whining tone

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"whine." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/whine>.

APA Style

whine. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/whine

whine

verb

whined, whin·ing, whines

verb

intransitive

To produce a sustained, high-pitched, plaintive sound, as in pain, fear, or complaint.
To complain or protest in a childish or annoying fashion: fans who are always whining about the poor officiating.
To produce a sustained noise of high pitch: jet engines whining.

verb

transitive

To utter with a whine.

noun

The act of whining: the dog's whine for food.
A whining sound: the whine of the dentist's drill.
A complaint uttered in a sustained, high-pitched tone: decided to ignore the children's whines.

Origin of whine

Middle English whinen from Old English hwīnan to make a whizzing sound

Related Forms:

whin′er
noun

whin′ing·ly
adverb

whin′y whin′ey
adjective

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"whine." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/whine>.

APA Style

whine. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/whine

Noun

(plural whines)

a long-drawn, high-pitched complaining cry or sound
a complaint or criticism

Verb

(third-person singular simple present whines, present participle whining, simple past and past participle whined)

(intransitive) To utter a high-pitched cry.
(intransitive) To make a sound resembling such a cry.
The jet engines whined at take off.
(intransitive) To complain or protest with a whine or as if with a whine.
(intransitive) To move with a whining sound.
The jet whined into the air.
To utter with the sound of a whine.
The child whined all his complaints.
Kelly Queen was whining that the boss made him put on his tie.

Origin

From Middle English hwinen, whinen, from Old English hwÄ«nan (“to rush, to whizz, to squeal, to whine") from Proto-Germanic *hwÄ«nanÄ…, from Proto-Indo-European *á¸±wey- (“to hiss, whistle, whisper"). Cognate with Old Norse hvÃna, whence Icelandic hvÃna, Norwegian hvine, Swedish hvina and Danish hvine.