trill

1 of 3

noun

ˈtril 

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 3

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 3

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

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• quaver
• warble

Examples of trill in a Sentence

Noun

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

Noun

For example, in Sergei Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 5 in G Major, Kasman Laude references a trill that moves from a whole tone to a half tone — a difference that's miniscule physically but enormous emotionally. —Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Nov. 2024

The crowds had retreated to their cabins and RVs, the click of cameras replaced by the trill of crickets. —Lane Sainty, The Arizona Republic, 3 Nov. 2024

Verb

Any minute now, the mockingbird will trill at me to go to bed. —Edan Lepucki, The Atlantic, 12 July 2024

At dawn, cooing doves and trilling Eurasian blackbirds woke me. —Nina Burleigh, New York Times, 21 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Italian trillo probably of imitative origin

Verb (2)

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

First Known Use

Noun

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

Kids Definition

trill

1 of 2 noun

ˈtril 

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