Bleating Meaning and Definition
Bleating
Pronunciation
/ˈblēˌting/
Part of Speech
Verb, Noun
Definition
A bleating sound is a high-pitched, nasal cry, often used to describe the sound made by sheep or goats. As a verb, it means to make such a sound.
Examples
- The sheep let out a loud bleating cry in distress.
- The goat bleated softly as it searched for FOOD.
Synonyms
- Cheeping
- Baaing
Antonyms
- Growling
- Snarling
Etymology
The word “bleating” comes from the Old English “blæte”, which means “to cry out”. It is related to the Proto-Germanic “blaitiz”, which is also the source of the Modern English word “bale”.
Usage Notes
Bleating is often used to describe the sound made by sheep, goats, and other farm animals, but it can also be used to describe a high-pitched, nasal cry made by humans or other animals.
Cultural References
Bleating has been used in various forms of media, including literature, music, and film. For example, the phrase “baa, baa, black sheep” is a well-known nursery rhyme that features bleating.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- baa, baa, black sheep
- a sheep in wolf’s clothing
Related Words or Phrases
- Sheep
- Goat
- Cry
- Wail
Collocations
- bleating loudly
- bleating softly
- bleating in distress
Frequency of Use
Bleating is not as commonly used as some other words or phrases, but it is still a useful term to know when describing sounds made by animals.
Common Misspellings
- Gerbena
- Gebert
- Bleatingly