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Definition of wail noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

wail

noun
 
/weɪl/
 
/weɪl/
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  1. a long, loud, high cry expressing pain or very sad feelings; a sound similar to this synonym moan
    • a wail of despair
    • the distant wail of sirens
    • The child let out a high-pitched wail.
    Homophones wail | whalewail   whale
     
    /weɪl/
     
    /weɪl/
    • wail verb
      • The blow made him wail with pain.
    • wail noun
      • The blood-curdling wail sent shivers down her spine.
    • whale noun
      • The blue whale is the largest mammal on the planet.
    Extra Examples
    • We could just hear the distant wail of a siren.
    • With a wail he threw himself on the bed and buried his face in the pillow.
    • He let out a wail of anguish.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • loud
    • high-pitched
    • anguished
    verb + wail
    • give
    • let out
    • hear
    preposition
    • with a wail
    • wail of
    See full entry
    Word OriginMiddle English: from Old Norse; related to woe.
See wail in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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