Library / English Dictionary

CHIRP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A sharp sound made by small birds or insects

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("chirp" is a kind of...):

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "chirp"):

tweet (a weak chirping sound as of a small bird)

Derivation:

chirp (make high-pitched sounds)

chirp (sing in modulation)

chirpy ((birds or insects) characterized by or tending to chirp)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make high-pitched sounds

Example:

the birds were chirping in the bushes

Synonyms:

cheep; chirp; chirrup; peep

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "chirp" is one way to...):

emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "chirp"):

chitter; twitter (make high-pitched sounds, as of birds)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

chirp (a sharp sound made by small birds or insects)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Sing in modulation

Synonyms:

chirp; tweedle

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "chirp" is one way to...):

sing (produce tones with the voice)

Domain category:

music (musical activity (singing or whistling etc.))

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

chirp (a sharp sound made by small birds or insects)

Credits

 Context examples: 

When he had gone a hundred steps or so, he heard a screaming and chirping in the branches over him, and looked up and saw a flock of birds pulling a cloak with their bills and feet; screaming, fighting, and tugging at each other as if each wished to have it himself.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

A bird, in a cage very little bigger than himself, makes a mournful rattle now and then in hopping on his perch, two inches high, or dropping from it; but neither sings nor chirps.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I used to call them my birds last summer, and Mother said they reminded her of me—busy, quaker-colored creatures, always near the shore, and always chirping that contented little song of theirs.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Then first came two white doves, flying in at the kitchen window; next came two turtle-doves; and after them came all the little birds under heaven, chirping and fluttering in: and they flew down into the ashes.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Beth's bird began to chirp again, and a half-blown rose was discovered on Amy's bush in the window.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A grove of pines covered one part of it, and from the heart of this green spot came a clearer sound than the soft sigh of the pines or the drowsy chirp of the crickets.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Books and papers everywhere, a broken meerschaum, and an old flute over the mantlepiece as if done with, a ragged bird without any tail chirped on one window seat, and a box of white mice adorned the other.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Amy chirped like a cricket, and Jo wandered through the airs at her own sweet will, always coming out at the wrong place with a croak or a quaver that spoiled the most pensive tune.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)