whine definition - Dictionary

Dictionary

verb (past and past participle whined, present participle whin·ing, 3rd person present singular whines)

Definition:

1. intransitive verb complain peevishly: to complain in an unreasonable, repeated, or irritating way

2. intransitive verb make high sorrowful sound: to cry, moan, or plead with a long, plaintive, high-pitched sound

3. transitive verb utter something in whining voice: to say something in a plaintive high-pitched voice

4. intransitive verb make high-pitched sound: to make a continuous high-pitched sound

The wind whined and moaned through the trees.

noun (plural whines)

Definition:

1. high-pitched cry: a long, plaintive, high-pitched cry

2. peevish complaint: a complaint or protest, especially one made repeatedly in an annoyingly plaintive voice

3. continuous high-pitched sound: a long or continuous high-pitched sound

The whine of the jet engines woke me up.

[ Old English hwīnan "(of an arrow) to whistle through the air," of imitative origin]

whin·er noun

whin·ing·ly adverb

whin·y adjective

Spelling Note


	whine or wine? Do not confuse the spelling of whine and wine, which sound similar. Whine is a noun and verb referring to a long plaintive high-pitched sound or a peevish complaint, as in the whine of the engines, customers whining about poor service. Wine is a noun denoting an alcoholic drink made from grapes or other fruit; it is occasionally used as a verb in the phrase wine and dine.

Word Key: Synonyms