chirp

[ churp ]

verb (used without object)

1. to make a characteristic short, sharp sound, as small birds and certain insects.
2. to make any similar sound:

   The children chirped with amusement.

verb (used with object)

1. to sound or utter in a chirping manner:

   The little girl chirped her joy.

noun

1. a chirping sound.

CHIRP

¹

/ tʃɜːp /

acronym for

1. Confidential Human Incidents Reporting Programme: a system, run by the RAF Institute of Medicine, by which commercial pilots can comment on safety trends without the knowledge of their employers

chirp

²

/ tʃɜːp /

verb

1. (esp of some birds and insects) to make a short high-pitched sound
2. to speak in a lively fashion

noun

1. a chirping sound, esp that made by a bird

Derived Forms

• ˈchirper, noun

Other Words From

• chirper noun
• chirping·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of chirp¹

1400–50; late Middle English chyrpynge (gerund); expressive word akin to cheep, chirk, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chirp¹

C15 (as chirpinge, gerund): of imitative origin

Example Sentences

“You come to understand what it’s like to practice on the NFL football field with your teammates,” Stafford said, “and then go save all that energy up that he really wants to chirp at us in practice and go let it loose on Sunday.”

From Los Angeles Times

Verse said he will chirp at opponents about “anything” other than personal relationships and family.

From Los Angeles Times

Additionally, the AUVs were outfitted with a chirp sub-bottom profiler that uses sound to reveal layers of sediment below the seafloor surface.

From Science Daily

Chirp profiles captured portions of the subsurface below approximately 200 pockmarks at the site.

From Science Daily

Crickets chirp loudly, and in the distance sirens and car horns sound off.

From Literature

Related Words

• trill
• warble