bleat

[ bleet ]

verb (used without object)

1. to utter the cry of a sheep, goat, or calf or a sound resembling such a cry.

verb (used with object)

1. to give forth with or as if with a bleat:

   He bleated his objections in a helpless rage.

2. to babble; prate.

noun

1. the cry of a sheep, goat, or calf.
2. any similar sound:

   the bleat of distant horns.

3. foolish, complaining talk; babble:

   I listened to their inane bleat all evening.

bleat

/ bliːt /

verb

1. intr (of a sheep, goat, or calf) to utter its characteristic plaintive cry
2. intr to speak with any similar sound
3. to whine; whimper

noun

1. the characteristic cry of sheep, goats, and young calves
2. any sound similar to this
3. a weak complaint or whine

Derived Forms

• ˈbleating, nounadjective
• ˈbleater, noun

Other Words From

• bleater noun
• bleating·ly adverb
• outbleat verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of bleat¹

before 1000; Middle English bleten, Old English blǣtan; cognate with Dutch blaten, Old High German blāzen; akin to Latin flēre to weep

Word History and Origins

Origin of bleat¹

Old English blǣtan ; related to Old High German blāzen , Dutch blaten , Latin flēre to weep; see blare

Example Sentences

“People don’t leave my rallies,” Trump bleated, insisting despite abundant proof to the contrary that his crowds are the biggest in American political history.

From Los Angeles Times

“If you're going to be a professional criminal, you'll be in the nick from time to time, and while you're there you make the best of it and don't bleat about it,” he said.

From BBC

Trump bleated in one post, claiming the hordes were actually AI-generated fakes.

From Los Angeles Times

Sometimes at press conferences, we sound like bleating sheep.

From Salon

She pointed at the ridge of a nearby rock formation, but I couldn’t understand her shouts over the noise of bleating pack animals, the squawking of birds, and the drumming in my ears.

From Literature