chirrup

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a short, repeated high-pitched sound such as the call of a small bird or insect

   Winter chirrupings gave way to the louder calls of spring birds.

2. 2
   verb

   to make a series of short, high-pitched sounds

   Sparrows chirruped from the hedge at sunrise.

A variant and expressive extension of chirp, probably shaped to imitate a repeated bird or insect sound. The doubled final syllable suggests a continuing series rather than a single chirp.

Topics