whimper
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈhwɪmpɝ// UK //wˈɪmpɐ// whim·per
n. a weak, high sound that someone makes when they are in pain or very upset. It is like a small cry or a soft whine.
n. a weak, high-pitched sound of distress, pain, or fear. Often used to describe the vocalisations of children, animals, or people in a state of emotional vulnerability.
The puppy gave a small whimper when the door closed.
After the loud thunder, the only sound in the room was a quiet whimper from the child in the corner.
The silence of the empty house was eventually broken by a faint whimper from the basement, where the old dog had been left alone for the first time in years.
From dialectal whimp (“to whine”) + -er (frequentative suffix). Compare German wimmern (“to whimper, whine”).