Emit - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT emit /ɪˈmɪt/ /ɛˈmɪt/ IPA guide

Other forms: emitted; emitting; emits

To emit means to give off or let out, and it usually has a lot to do with gases, smells and noises. All of which could be potentially embarrassing, depending on where they're coming from.

Lots of things can be emitted: body heat from your hands, high-pitched sound waves from a dog whistle, nasty odors from your mouth after a garlic-heavy lunch. Coming from the Latin emitter, it simply means to “send forth.” Since climate change is such a hot topic, you've probably heard people talking about how much CO₂ cars emit or how many greenhouse gases factories emit into the air.

Definitions of emit

verb give off, send forth, or discharge; as of light, heat, or radiation, vapor, etc. “The ozone layer blocks some harmful rays which the sun emits” synonyms: give off, give out see moresee less antonyms: absorb suck or take up or in types: show 15 types... hide 15 types... effuse give out or emit (also metaphorically) reflect, shine be bright by reflecting or casting light spark, sparkle emit or produce sparks radiate send out rays or waves scintillate give off fume, smoke emit a cloud of fine particles reek give off smoke, fumes, warm vapour, steam, etc. shoot emit (as light, flame, or fumes) suddenly and forcefully ray emit as rays steam emit steam resplend be resplendent or radiant; to shine brightly glare be sharply reflected opalesce reflect light or colors like an opal luminesce be or become luminescent; exhibit luminescence coruscate, scintillate, sparkle reflect brightly
verb expel (gases or odors) synonyms: breathe, pass off see moresee less types: show 6 types... hide 6 types... belch, bubble, burp, eruct expel gas from the stomach force out emit or cause to move with force of effort emanate, exhale, give forth give out (breath or an odor) radiate send out real or metaphoric rays bubble form, produce, or emit bubbles effervesce, fizz, foam, form bubbles, froth, sparkle become bubbly or frothy or foaming type of: discharge, eject, exhaust, expel, release eliminate (a substance)
verb express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words) synonyms: let loose, let out, utter see moresee less types: show 82 types... hide 82 types... call utter in a loud voice or announce gibber chatter inarticulately; of monkeys crow express pleasure verbally crow utter shrill sounds trumpet utter in trumpet-like sounds coo cry softly, as of pigeons call, cry, holler, hollo, scream, shout, shout out, squall, yell utter a sudden loud cry miaou, miaow make a cat-like sound tsk, tut, tut-tut utter `tsk,' `tut,' or `tut-tut,' as in disapproval echo, repeat to say again or imitate call utter a characteristic note or cry shoot utter fast and forcefully gurgle utter with a gurgling sound cry utter a characteristic sound nasale speak in a nasal voice bite out utter sigh utter with a sigh troat emit a cry intended to attract other animals; used especially of animals at rutting time lift make audible gasp, pant utter while gasping, as if out of breath volley utter rapidly break into express or utter spontaneously heave utter a sound, as with obvious effort chorus utter in unison splutter, sputter utter with a spitting sound, as if in a rage deliver utter (an exclamation, noise, etc.) hoot to utter a loud clamorous shout grunt issue a grunting, low, animal-like noise wolf-whistle whistle or howl approvingly at a female, of males snort indicate contempt by breathing noisily and forcefully through the nose spit, spit out utter with anger or contempt groan, moan indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure growl, grumble, rumble utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds howl, wrawl, yammer, yowl cry loudly, as of animals bark make barking sounds baa, blat, blate, bleat cry plaintively bellow, roar make a loud noise, as of an animal cheep, chirp, chirrup, peep make high-pitched sounds churr, whirr make a vibrant sound, as of some birds chirr make a vibrant noise, of grasshoppers or cicadas meow, mew cry like a cat quack utter quacking noises hoot utter the characteristic sound of owls cronk, honk cry like a goose hiss, sibilate, siss, sizz make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval sibilate utter a sibilant bray, hee-haw make a sound characteristic of donkeys oink, squeal utter a high-pitched cry, characteristic of pigs clack, click, cluck make a clucking sounds, characteristic of hens low, moo make a low noise, characteristic of bovines cackle squawk shrilly and loudly, characteristic of hens gobble make a gurgling sound, characteristic of turkeys neigh, nicker, whicker, whinny make a characteristic sound, of a horse gargle utter with gargling or burbling sounds caw utter a cry, characteristic of crows, rooks, or ravens mew utter a high-pitched cry, as of seagulls haw utter `haw' hem utter `hem' or `ahem' croak, cronk utter a hoarse sound, like a raven sing to make melodious sounds smack press (the lips) together and open (the lips) noisily, as in eating give emit or utter catcall whistle or make a suggestive comment to someone passing by hollo cry hollo hurrah shout `hurrah!' halloo shout `halloo', as when greeting someone or attracting attention whoop shout, as if with joy or enthusiasm pipe, pipe up, shriek, shrill utter a shrill cry recite repeat aloud from memory cuckoo repeat monotonously, like a cuckoo repeats his call reecho repeat back like an echo parrot repeat mindlessly regurgitate, reproduce repeat after memorization pant-hoot communicate by hooting and panting, as of primates grunt-hoot communicate by hooting and grunting, as of primates howl, roar, ululate, wail, yaup, yawl emit long loud cries bay, quest bark with prolonged noises, of dogs yap, yelp, yip bark in a high-pitched tone screak, screech, skreak, skreigh, squawk utter a harsh abrupt scream chitter, twitter make high-pitched sounds, as of birds assibilate insert a sibilant sound before or after (another sound) gaggle make a noise characteristic of a goose

Pronunciation US /ɪˈmɪt/ UK /ɛˈmɪt/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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