WAIL

Pronunciation (US):

• WAIL (noun)
  The noun WAIL has 1 sense:

1. a cry of sorrow and grief

  Familiarity information: WAIL used as a noun is very rare.

• WAIL (verb)
  The verb WAIL has 2 senses:

1. emit long loud cries
2. cry weakly or softly

  Familiarity information: WAIL used as a verb is rare.

• WAIL (noun)

Meaning:

A cry of sorrow and grief

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

lament; lamentation; wail; plaint

Context example:

their pitiful laments could be heard throughout the ward

Hypernyms ("wail" is a kind of...):

complaint ((formerly) a loud cry (or repeated cries) of pain or rage or sorrow)

• WAIL (verb)

Meaning:

Emit long loud cries

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

howl; ululate; wail; yaup; yawl; roar

Context examples:

wail in self-pity / howl with sorrow

Hypernyms (to "wail" is one way to...):

call; cry; holler; hollo; scream; shout; shout out; squall; yell (utter a sudden loud cry)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "wail"):

squall; waul; wawl (make high-pitched, whiney noises)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sentence examples:

You can hear animals wail in the meadows
The meadows wail with animals

Meaning:

Cry weakly or softly

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

whimper; pule; mewl; wail

Context example:

she wailed with pain

Hypernyms (to "wail" is one way to...):

cry; weep (shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s