- 1a small metal or plastic tube that you blow to make a loud, high sound, used to attract attention or as a signal The referee finally blew the whistle to stop the game. see tin whistle
- 2the sound made by blowing a whistle He scored the winning goal just seconds before the final whistle.
- 3the sound that you make by forcing your breath out when your lips are closed a shrill whistle He gave a low long whistle of surprise. see wolf whistle
- 4the high, loud sound produced by air or steam being forced through a small opening, or by something moving quickly through the air the whistle of a boiling kettle the whistle of a bullet
- 5a piece of equipment that makes a high, loud sound when air or steam is forced through it The train whistle blew as we left the station. a factory whistle Idioms
very clean
to tell someone in authority about something wrong or illegal that someone is doing
Check pronunciation: whistle