warble

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitive

   To sing with a smooth, trilling, or quivering sound, like a small bird.

   Grammar: No object; often used of birds: The bird warbled in the tree.

   Patterns

   • warble in the trees
   • warble a tune

   A robin warbled outside my window.

   She warbled a gentle melody as she worked.

   The blackbird warbled from the top of the hedge.

2. 2verbtransitive or intransitive

   To speak or sing in a way that is unsteady or quavering, especially because of emotion or old age.

   Grammar: Can take an object: He warbled an old song. Or no object: Her voice warbled.

   Patterns

   • warble a song
   • voice warbles

   The old man warbled a tune from his youth.

   Her voice warbled with emotion as she said goodbye.

   He warbled his speech, making it hard to understand.

3. 3nouncountable

   A soft, trilling sound, especially one made by a bird.

   Grammar: Countable: a warble, the warble of a bird.

   Patterns

   • the warble of a bird
   • a warble of laughter

   The warble of the finch filled the garden.

   I heard a warble from the trees.

   Her warble was sweet and clear.

Word forms

Common combinations

warble a tune

She warbled a tune while washing dishes.

warble in the trees

The birds warbled in the trees at dawn.

a bird's warble

The bird's warble woke me up.

voice warbles

His voice warbled as he tried to sing.

Synonyms and how they differ

trill

Trill suggests a rapid alternation between two notes, while warble is a more general smooth, quivering sound.

chirp

Chirp is a short, sharp sound, not the continuous melody of a warble.

sing

Sing is the general word; warble adds the idea of a birdlike or shaky quality.

Word family

warbler noun

A small bird known for its warbling song.

warbling adjective

Making a warbling sound.

Commonly confused: warble or wobble?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “warble”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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