ENGLISH
REFERENCE

chirp

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈtʃɝp// UK //tʃˈɜːp// chirp Archaic Slang

n. a short, high sound that a bird makes. It can also describe a quick, happy sound made by a person or a machine.

n. a short, high-pitched sound, typically associated with birds or small animals. In a figurative sense, it may refer to a brief, cheerful utterance or a high-pitched electronic signal.


SIMPLE

The birds began to chirp as the sun rose.

CONTEXTUAL

The forest was filled with the constant chirp of crickets long after the sun had set.

COMPLEX

The morning air was broken only by the occasional chirp of a sparrow and the rustling of leaves in the breeze.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English *chirpen (attested only in the derivative Middle English chirpinge, cyrpynge, chyrypynge (“chirping”). Compare Middle English chirken and chirmen. More at chirk, chirm. Compare also Middle English chirten (“to smack, chirrup”).

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