Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
whistle
I. whis‧tle1 /ˈwɪsəl/ verb
1. HIGH SOUND [intransitive and transitive] to make a high or musical sound by blowing air out through your lips:
Adam whistled happily on his way to work.
I heard this song on the radio and I’ve been whistling it all day.
He whistled a tune as he strolled down the corridor.
whistle to somebody (=whistle to get someone’s attention)
Dad whistled to us to come home for dinner.
whistle at somebody (=whistle to let someone know that you think they are attractive)
Men are always whistling at Heidi on the street.
2. USE A WHISTLE [intransitive] to make a high sound by blowing into a whistle:
The referee whistled and the game began.
3. GO/MOVE FAST [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move quickly, making a whistling sound:
Bullets and shells were whistling overhead.
They listened to the wind whistling through the trees.
4. STEAM TRAIN/KETTLE [intransitive] if a steam train or kettle whistles, it makes a high sound when air or steam is forced through a small hole
5. BIRD [intransitive] if a bird whistles, it makes a high musical sound
6. be whistling in the dark informal to be trying to show that you are brave when you are afraid, or that you know about something when you do not:
Does he know what he’s talking about or is he just whistling in the dark?
7. somebody can whistle for something British English spoken used to tell someone that there is no chance of them getting what they have asked for
II. whistle2 noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: hwistle]
1. a small object that produces a high whistling sound when you blow into it:
The lifeguard blew his whistle.
2. a high sound made by blowing a whistle, by blowing air out through your lips, or when air or steam is forced through a small opening:
Larsson scored just minutes before the final whistle.
low/shrill/high-pitched etc whistle
Sanders gave a low whistle when he saw the contents of the box.
3. a piece of equipment on a train or boat that makes a high noise when air is forced through it
4. the sound of something moving quickly through the air
whistle of
We could hear the whistle of the jets as they passed overhead.
⇒ blow the whistle on something at blow1(17), ⇒ clean as a whistle at clean1(1), ⇒ penny whistle, wolf whistle
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
whistle
whis·tle noun,verb [ˈwɪsl] [ˈwɪsl]
noun
1. a small metal or plastic tube that you blow to make a loud high sound, used to attract attention or as a signal
• The referee finally blew the whistle to stop the game.
see also tin whistle
2. the sound made by blowing a whistle
• He scored the winning goal just seconds before the final whistle.
3. the sound that you make by forcing your breath out when your lips are closed
• a shrill whistle
• He gave a low long whistle of surprise.
see also wolf whistle
4. the high loud sound produced by air or steam being forced through a small opening, or by sth moving quickly through the air
• the whistle of a boiling kettle
• the whistle of a bullet
5. a piece of equipment that makes a high loud sound when air or steam is forced through it
• The train whistle blew as we left the station.
• a factory whistle
see blow the whistle on sb/sth at blow v., as clean as a whistle at clean adj.
Word Origin:
Old English (h)wistlian (verb), (h)wistle (noun), of Germanic origin; imitative and related to Swedish vissla ‘to whistle’.
Example Bank:
• From the opening to the final whistle, Gray is relentless.
• He gave a short blast on his whistle.
• He pursed his lips in a silent whistle.
• She gave a low whistle of admiration.
• The referee's whistle went just before he shot the goal.
• The train entered the tunnel with a shrill whistle.
• They scored their only goal just before the final whistle.
• From the audience came applause and whistles of appreciation.
• He attracted whistles and jeers and rotten tomatoes from the crowd.
Idiom: somebody can whistle for something
verb
1. transitive, intransitive to make a high sound or a musical tune by forcing your breath out when your lips are closed
• ~ (sth) to whistle a tune
• He whistled in amazement.
• The crowd booed and whistled as the player came onto the field.
• ~ to sb/sth She whistled to the dog to come back.
• ~ at sb/sth Workmen whistled at her as she walked past.
• He whistled at the sheer audacity of the plan.
2. intransitive to make a high sound by blowing into a whistle
• The referee whistled for a foul.
3. intransitive (of a kettle or other machine) to make a high sound
• The kettle began to whistle.
• The microphone was making a strange whistling sound.
• The train whistled and shot into the tunnel.
4. intransitive + adv./prep. to move quickly, making a high sound
• The wind whistled down the chimney.
• A bullet whistled past his ear.
5. intransitive (of a bird) to make a high sound
Verb forms:
Word Origin:
Old English (h)wistlian (verb), (h)wistle (noun), of Germanic origin; imitative and related to Swedish vissla ‘to whistle’.
Example Bank:
• James whistled in amazement.
• Men whistled at her in the street.
• Norma looked at the letter and whistled softly through her teeth.
• William whistled to me from a distance.
• He started to whistle a tune.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
whistle
whistle /ˈwɪs.ļ/
verb
1 [I or T] to make a high sound by forcing air through a small hole or passage, especially through the lips, or through a special device held to the lips:
He whistled as he worked.
On the days when she wore a skirt the men on the building site would whistle at her.
Someone was whistling Beatles tunes outside my window.
The referee whistled and the game was over.
2 [I + adverb or preposition] to make a long, high sound while moving quickly through or past something:
She heard the wind whistling through the trees and the howl of a distant wolf.
I stepped out of the building and immediately a bullet whistled past my head.
3 [I] When birds whistle, they sing in high musical notes:
The birds were whistling in the early morning quiet.
whistle /ˈwɪs.ļ/
noun [C]
1 the sound made by someone or something whistling:
From the bottom of the garden I recognised my father's tuneless whistle.
It sounded like the whistle of an old-fashioned steam train.
She listened to the whistle of the wind through the trees.
2 a device which you hold to your lips and blow through in order to make a loud, high sound:
The referee blew his whistle for half-time.