Word
meow
Phoneticsme·ow, stress on the second syllable
US/miˈaʊ/
UK/mɪˈaʊ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the sound a cat makes. You use this word to describe the cry of a kitten or a cat when it wants attention or food.
n. the characteristic vocalisation of a domestic cat. Often used to describe a request for attention or food.
Examples
“The cat gave a loud meow when it saw the food bowl.”
“I heard a faint meow coming from the bushes and found a small kitten hiding there.”
“While most feline communication is non-verbal, the domestic cat has developed the meow specifically as a way to signal its needs to human companions.”
Examples
simple
“The cat gave a loud meow when it saw the food bowl.”
contextual
“I heard a faint meow coming from the bushes and found a small kitten hiding there.”
complex
“While most feline communication is non-verbal, the domestic cat has developed the meow specifically as a way to signal its needs to human companions.”
Etymology
Alteration of earlier mew, from Middle English mewen, mouwen (“to mew, meow”), of onomatopoeic origin. Compare Saterland Frisian mauje, miauje (“to meow”), West Frisian miaukje (“to meow”), Dutch miauwen (“to meow”), Middle Low German mauwen, mawen, mouwen (“to meow”) (whence modern German Low German mauen, miauen (“to meow”)), Middle High German mouen, modern German miauen (“to meow”). Some spellings were modelled on French miaou. Meow and its spelling variants entered widespread currency in the 19th century, mostly replacing mew, possibly because phonetic change meant that word had ceased to approximate a cat's cry (contrast the pronunciation of Middle English mewen /ˈmɛu̯ən/ compared to modern /ˈmjuː/). (mephedrone): Perhaps because of the drug's distinctive smell resembling cat urine.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
01. cat's meow
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/meow