gurgle

[ gur-guhl ]

verb (used without object)

, gur·gled, gur·gling.

1. to flow in a broken, irregular, noisy current:

   The water gurgled from the bottle.

   Synonyms: babble, burble, bubble

2. to make a sound as of water doing this (often used of birds or of human beings).

   Synonyms: babble, burble, bubble

verb (used with object)

, gur·gled, gur·gling.

1. to utter or express with a gurgling sound:

   The baby gurgled her delight.

noun

1. the act or noise of gurgling.

gurgle

/ ˈɡɜːɡəl /

verb

1. (of liquids, esp of rivers, streams, etc) to make low bubbling noises when flowing
2. to utter low throaty bubbling noises, esp as a sign of contentment

   the baby gurgled with delight

noun

1. the act or sound of gurgling

Derived Forms

• ˈgurgling, adjective

Other Words From

• gur·gling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of gurgle¹

First recorded in 1555–65; compare Dutch, Middle Low German gorgelen, German gurgeln “to gargle”; akin to Latin gurguliō “throat”

Word History and Origins

Origin of gurgle¹

C16: perhaps from Vulgar Latin gurgulāre, from Latin gurguliō gullet

Example Sentences

“The car is a space where you’re often alone, a quiet private space, and all these thoughts, some of the stuff we’ve been pushing away, start to gurgle up.”

From Los Angeles Times

“The car is a space where you’re often alone, a quiet private space, and all these thoughts, some of the stuff we’ve been pushing away, start to gurgle up.”

From Los Angeles Times

From the local designers of the Gurgle Pot comes this adorable stainless steel and silicone bird that whistles as it pours wine from its beak, drip free.

From Seattle Times

The only sound was the gurgle of the soda fountain.

From Literature

As the 14th-ranked Utes took a two-score lead into the fourth quarter Saturday at the Coliseum, that familiar heartbreak that struck a season ago in Salt Lake City seemed to gurgle up.

From Los Angeles Times