purr

[ pur ]

verb (used without object)

1. to utter a low, continuous, murmuring sound expressive of contentment or pleasure, as a cat does.
2. (of things) to make a sound suggestive of the purring of a cat:

   The new motor of the car purred.

verb (used with object)

1. to express by or as if by purring.

noun

1. the low, vibrating sound made by a cat by the contracting of the laryngeal muscles and the diaphragm as it breathes.
2. a sound resembling this.
3. the act of purring.

purr

/ pɜː /

verb

1. intr (esp of cats) to make a low vibrant sound, usually considered as expressing pleasure, etc
2. tr to express (pleasure, etc) by this sound

noun

1. a purring sound

Other Words From

• purring·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of purr¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of purr¹

C17: of imitative origin; compare French ronronner to purr, German schnurren, Dutch snorren

Example Sentences

Moments later, the cat lays purring and writhing on the ground until it "dies".

From BBC

“It likes me better,” she said, and the broom purred beneath them.

From Literature

“Not such a mighty and powerful warlord now, are you?” he said, purring.

From Literature

A purring engine of privilege collided with a barrage of perfectly timed questions.

From BBC

A healthy coral reef is noisy, full of the croaks, purrs, and grunts of various fishes and the crackling of snapping shrimp.

From Science Daily