noun
bleat
BLEET
Bleat (noun) means the cry a sheep or goat makes. Example: “The lamb's bleat carried across the field.”
noun
1
The cry a sheep or goat makes.
"The lamb's bleat carried across the field."
verb
1
Of a sheep or goat, to make its characteristic cry.
"The goats bleated impatiently at feeding time."
2
Of a person, to complain in a weak or whining way.
"He kept bleating about how unfair the decision was."
How to use bleat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe sound sheep make, or (used about people) whiny, ineffective complaining.
Common pairings
bleat about something
sheep bleating
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Word forms
- Plural
- bleats
- Third person singular
- bleats
- Past tense
- bleated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The lamb's _____ carried across the field.
Etymology
From Old English "blǣtan," an imitation of the sound sheep and goats make.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for bleat
See all rhymes for bleat →Frequently asked questions
What does “bleat” mean?
The word “bleat” means the cry a sheep or goat makes. In plain terms, the sound sheep make, or (used about people) whiny, ineffective complaining.
How do you pronounce “bleat”?
“Bleat” is pronounced BLEET (/ˈbliːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “bleat” in a sentence?
Here is “bleat” used in a sentence: “The lamb's bleat carried across the field.”
What part of speech is “bleat”?
Depending on how it is used, “bleat” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “bleat” come from?
The word “bleat” comes from Old English. From Old English "blǣtan," an imitation of the sound sheep and goats make.
How many meanings does “bleat” have?
“Bleat” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the cry a sheep or goat makes.
