chirp
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to make a characteristic short, sharp sound, as small birds and certain insects.
-
to make any similar sound.
The children chirped with amusement.
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
-
(esp of some birds and insects) to make a short high-pitched sound
-
to speak in a lively fashion
noun
acronym
Other Word Forms
- chirper noun
- chirpingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of chirp
1400–50; late Middle English chyrpynge (gerund); expressive word akin to cheep, chirk, etc.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sit at one of the tables, and don’t be surprised to hear the sounds of birds chirping from the man-made trees.
From Los Angeles Times
The pixies don’t dance and chirp the way they used to.
From Literature
The host handed me a blindfold and Bose noise-canceling headphones, playing the hypnotic sounds of a space drum with birds chirping in the distance.
From Los Angeles Times
She then skated away to serve her two minutes, a cheeky grin plastered across her face, chirping all the way to the penalty box.
A tiny bird chirped in a nearby tree.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
