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
trilled; trilling; trills
: to play or sing with a trill : quaver
: to utter as or with or as if with a trill
trill the r
triller
noun
trilled; trilling; trills
: to cause to flow in a small stream
Synonyms
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
Theodore R. Johnson, Washington Post, 31 July 2024
The multidimensional performer brought the audience back to the land of 2000s R&B, with the same smooth vocal trills and electric dance moves that distinguished him as a pillar of the contemporary R&B scene.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 27 July 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for trill 
Noun
The red-winged blackbirds announce their approach with a trill, then muscle the others out of the way.
—Theodore R. Johnson, Washington Post, 31 July 2024
The multidimensional performer brought the audience back to the land of 2000s R&B, with the same smooth vocal trills and electric dance moves that distinguished him as a pillar of the contemporary R&B scene.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 27 July 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
See all Example Sentences for trill
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Trill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trill. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
trill
1 of 2 noun1
a
: the alternation of two musical tones a whole step apart
b
: vibrato
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 verb1
: to utter as or with a trill
trilled the letter r
2
: to play or sing with a trill : quaver
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