Chirp - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT chirp /tʃərp/ /tʃəp/ IPA guide

Other forms: chirping; chirped; chirps

A chirp is the short, high sound a bird makes. The chirps of the robins at your bird feeder through the open window might drive your cat crazy.

Birds chirp — you could also say they tweet, twitter, cheep, and warble — and some insects chirp too. An extremely cheerful person also chirps: "The overly enthusiastic tour guide chirps happily as the bus moves through the city." Chirp may have developed as an imitation of the sound itself, or it may stem from the Middle English chirken, "twitter," which is rooted in the Old English cearcian, "to creak."

Definitions of chirp

noun a sharp sound made by small birds or insects see moresee less types: tweet a weak chirping sound as of a small bird type of: sound the sudden occurrence of an audible event
verb make high-pitched sounds “the birds were chirping in the bushes” synonyms: cheep, chirrup, peep see moresee less types: chitter, twitter make high-pitched sounds, as of birds type of: emit, let loose, let out, utter express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words)
verb sing in modulation synonyms: tweedle see moresee less type of: sing produce tones with the voice

Pronunciation US /tʃərp/ UK /tʃəp/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘chirp'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Word Family 2 million people are mastering new words. Master a word

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