to whistle a tune

  • 1whistle a tune — make a sound which can be identified with a tune …

    English contemporary dictionary

  • 2Whistle — Whis tle, v. t. [1913 Webster] 1. To form, utter, or modulate by whistling; as, to whistle a tune or an air. [1913 Webster] 2. To send, signal, or call by a whistle. [1913 Webster] He chanced to miss his dog; we stood still till he had whistled… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3whistle — [[t](h)wɪ̱s(ə)l[/t]] whistles, whistling, whistled 1) VERB When you whistle or when you whistle a tune, you make a series of musical notes by forcing your breath out between your lips, or your teeth. He whistled and sang snatches of songs... He… …

    English dictionary

  • 4tune — I n. melody 1) to compose, write a tune 2) to hum; play; sing; whistle a tune (to play a tune on the piano) 3) to carry ( sing the notes of ) a tune 4) a tune of, to (the tune to a song) 5) a catchy; lilting tune 6) in tune; out of tune (to sing… …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 5whistle — whistleable, adj. /hwis euhl, wis /, v., whistled, whistling, n. v.i. 1. to make a clear musical sound, a series of such sounds, or a high pitched, warbling sound by the forcible expulsion of the breath through a small opening formed by… …

    Universalium

  • 6whistle — whis•tle [[t]ˈ(h)wɪs əl, ˈwɪs [/t]] v. tled, tling, n. 1) to make a high clear musical sound or a series of such sounds by forcing the breath through puckered lips or through the teeth 2) to produce sounds resembling a whistle, as by blowing on… …

    From formal English to slang

  • 7whistle — I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hwistle; akin to Old Norse hvīsla to whisper Date: before 12th century 1. a. a small wind instrument in which sound is produced by the forcible passage of breath through …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 8whistle — ► NOUN 1) a clear, high pitched sound made by forcing breath through pursed lips, or between one s teeth. 2) any similar sound. 3) an instrument used to produce such a sound. ► VERB 1) emit or produce a whistle. 2) produce (a tune) in such a way …

    English terms dictionary

  • 9whistle — [hwis′əl, wis′əl] vi. whistled, whistling [ME whistlen < OE hwistlian: for IE base see WHISPER] 1. a) to make a clear, shrill sound or note, or a series of these, by forcing breath between the teeth or through a narrow opening made by… …

    English World dictionary

  • 10whistle */ — I UK [ˈwɪs(ə)l] / US / US [ˈhwɪs(ə)l] noun [countable] Word forms whistle : singular whistle plural whistles 1) a small metal or plastic object that you put in your mouth and blow to make a high sound blow a whistle: The referee blew the whistle… …

    English dictionary