Word
purr
US/ˈpɝ/
UK/pˈɜː/
Definition
n. the soft, rhythmic sound that a cat makes when it is happy or relaxed. It is a low, vibrating noise that you can often feel as well as hear.
n. a low, continuous, vibrating sound produced by a cat, typically indicating contentment or relaxation. Often used in the context of feline behavior or as a metaphor for a smooth, rhythmic engine sound.
Examples
“The cat began to purr as soon as I sat down.”
“The old engine made a deep purr as it idled in the driveway, showing it was still in good condition.”
“While the kitten was initially skittish, it soon began to purr softly against the speaker's chest, signaling a shift from fear to trust.”
Examples
simple
“The cat began to purr as soon as I sat down.”
contextual
“The old engine made a deep purr as it idled in the driveway, showing it was still in good condition.”
complex
“While the kitten was initially skittish, it soon began to purr softly against the speaker's chest, signaling a shift from fear to trust.”
Etymology
Onomatopoeic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/purr