trill

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈtril How to pronounce trill (audio)
Synonyms of trill
1
a
: the alternation of two musical tones a diatonic second apart

called also shake

b
: vibrato
c
: a rapid reiteration of the same tone especially on a percussion instrument
2
: a sound resembling a musical trill : warble
3
a
: the rapid vibration of one speech organ against another (as of the tip of the tongue against the ridge of bone behind the teeth in the upper jaw)
b
: a speech sound made by a trill

trill

2 of 4

verb (1)

trilled; trilling; trills

intransitive verb

: to play or sing with a trill : quaver

transitive verb

: to utter as or with or as if with a trill
trill the r
triller noun

trill

3 of 4

verb (2)

trilled; trilling; trills

intransitive verb

1
: to flow in a small stream or in drops : trickle
2
: twirl, revolve

transitive verb

: to cause to flow in a small stream

triller

4 of 4

noun (2)

trill·​er
ˈtrilə(r)
plural -s
: one that trills
especially : any of several cuckoo shrikes (genus Lalage) of Australia and the Pacific islands that are commonly largely black and white and are noted for their trilling calls

called also caterpillar-eater

Synonyms of trill

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Verb (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of trill in a Sentence

Noun (1) She pronounces her r's with a trill. the trill of the bird Verb (1) a bluebird trilled outside our window
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The males make harsh rapid trills that are tolerable for humans at a distance, but can be a bit unpleasant at close range. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 12 Aug. 2026 At one point, a television broadcast showed a player appearing to stifle laughter over the former Martha and the Vandellas frontwoman’s vocal trills during the middle of the performance. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
Maine coons have become popular for their playful, sociable reputation, distinctive chirps and trills and their deep roots in New England history. — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026 Zipf’s law states that a handful of words—or, in this case, chirps, whistles and trills—occur frequently, while most are rare. — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trill

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Italian trillo probably of imitative origin

Verb (2) and Noun (2)

Middle English; akin to Middle Dutch trillen to vibrate, Swedish trilla to roll

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

circa 1667, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trill was in the 14th century

Rhymes for trill

See All Rhymes for trill

Browse Nearby Words

trilithon
trill
trillado
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trill. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

trill

1 of 2 noun
ˈtril How to pronounce trill (audio)
1
a
: the alternation of two musical tones a whole step apart
b
: vibrato
2
: warble entry 1 sense 1
3
a
: the rapid vibration of one speech organ against another (as of the tip of the tongue against the teeth)
b
: a speech sound produced by a trill

trill

2 of 2 verb
1
: to utter as or with a trill
trilled the letter r
2
: to play or sing with a trill : quaver

More from Merriam-Webster on trill

Nglish: Translation of trill for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trill

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