whine
n. countablen. a long, high cry or sound that shows someone is unhappy or complaining. It can also describe the high-pitched noise made by a machine or an engine.
n. a long, high-pitched complaining cry or sound; also refers to a sustained, high-frequency mechanical noise. Often used to describe the sound of a jet engine or a person expressing dissatisfaction in a childish manner.
The dog gave a low whine because he wanted to go outside.
The constant whine of the air conditioner made it difficult for the students to focus on their exam.
The politician's speech was dismissed by critics as a repetitive whine about unfair treatment rather than a serious proposal for reform.
From Middle English whynen, hwinen, whinen, from Old English hwīnan (“to rush, to whizz, to squeal, to whine”), from Proto-West Germanic hwīnan, from Proto-Germanic hwīnaną, from Proto-Indo-European ḱwey- (“to hiss, whistle, whisper”). Cognate with Old Norse hvína, whence Icelandic hvína, Norwegian Nynorsk kvina, Swedish vina, and Danish hvine. Despite the strong similarity in sound and meaning, not related with German weinen, Dutch wenen, from Proto-Germanic wainōną (for which see dialectal English ween (“to weep, lament”)).
Often takes the preposition 'of' to describe the source of the sound.