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

An exhausted Colantoni dropping a couple of Alka-Seltzers in a glass, pressing the glass to his cheek and softly saying, “Purr,” felt like the year’s greatest inspiration.

From Los Angeles Times

Even at the sluggish pace of—what was it now?—107 miles per hour, I began to purr as I rolled down the open road.

From Literature

Even the Pokémon noises are gently mellowed out in contrast to the coarser, more caterwauling sounds of the games; here the creatures purr, cry, coo and sigh like docile house pets.

From New York Times

Victoria Monét, “Jaguar II” Impeccably appointed throwback R&B brought cleverly up to date by Monét, a prolific songwriter-for-hire now showing off a throaty purr of her own.

From Los Angeles Times

He wanted to take the sports car out on the highway and see if it could really purr, believing that amping up the business was either valuable for its own sake or necessary to unlock more of OpenAI’s potential.

From Slate