trill

C2 Topic:Space, Position & Direction

US /trɪl/ UK /trɪl/ See IPA manual

Freq #40072

Meanings

1

noun
a rapid alternation between two adjacent musical notes

The flutist ended the phrase with a bright trill.
2

noun
a rapid series of sounds made by a bird or by vibration of a speech organ

A sparrow's trill sounded from the hedge at dawn.
3

verb
to sing, play, or pronounce with a rapid wavering or vibrating sound

The singer can trill the final note without losing pitch.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a rapid alternation between... shake

2 noun · a rapid series of sounds... warble roll

3 verb · to sing, play, or pronounce... warble quaver roll

Word family

Forms trilled

Derived forms trillertrilling

Related forms tremolo vibratobirdsong

Etymology

Recorded in English from the seventeenth century and probably imitative of a rapid vibrating sound; it has also been compared with Germanic verbs meaning 'to twirl' or 'turn.' The musical, bird-call, and articulated-r senses all preserve the idea of quick alternation.

Topics

Space, Position & Direction Music Theory

External links

# trill

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /trɪl/
**IPA (UK):** /trɪl/
**Frequency rank:** 40072

## Meanings
1. a rapid alternation between two adjacent musical notes
2. a rapid series of sounds made by a bird or by vibration of a speech organ
3. to sing, play, or pronounce with a rapid wavering or vibrating sound

## Examples
- The flutist ended the phrase with a bright trill.
- A sparrow's trill sounded from the hedge at dawn.
- The singer can trill the final note without losing pitch.

## Synonyms
- warble
- quaver
- roll
- shake

## Derived Forms
- triller
- trilling

## Related Forms
- tremolo
- vibrato
- birdsong

## Etymology
Recorded in English from the seventeenth century and probably imitative of a rapid vibrating sound; it has also been compared with Germanic verbs meaning 'to twirl' or 'turn.' The musical, bird-call, and articulated-r senses all preserve the idea of quick alternation.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction
- Music Theory

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