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Intermediate Dictionary        

wail

 
 
pronunciation:
weIl
parts of speech:
verb, noun
features:
Homophone Note, Word Explorer
part of speech: verb
inflections: wails, wailing, wailed
definition 1: to make a long, loud cry out of sadness or pain.
The boy wailed when he fell off his bicycle.
synonyms:
bawl, whine, yowl
similar words:
cry, groan, moan, scream, whimper
definition 2: to make a sound like such a cry.
The ambulance's siren wailed.
synonyms:
howl
similar words:
blare, cry, groan, moan
 
part of speech: noun
definition: a long, loud cry of pain or sadness, or a sound like this.
The wail of the wind kept me awake last night.
synonyms:
bawl, yowl
similar words:
cry, groan, moan, outcry, scream, whimper
derivations: wailingly (adv.), wailer (n.)
Homophone Note
The words wail and whale (a large marine mammal) sound alike but have different meanings.
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  emotion, fear, sadness