trill

plural trills

1. entertainmentA rapid alternation between an indicated note and the one above it as an ornament; in musical notation usually indicated with the letters tr written above the staff.
2. human sciencesA type of consonantal sound that is produced by vibrations of the tongue against the place of articulation: for example, Spanish ⟨rr⟩, /r/.
3. A tremulous high-pitched vocal sound produced by cats.

present singular third person trills · participle present trilling · participle past trilled · past trilled

1. intransitiveTo create a trill sound; to utter trills or a trill; to play or sing in tremulous vibrations of sound; to have a trembling sound; to quaver.

   To judge of trilling notes and tripping feet.

   1692, John Dryden, Cleomenes, the Spartan Hero, a Tragedy

   Synonyms: warble

2. transitiveTo impart the quality of a trill to; to utter as, or with, a trill.

   to trill a note, or the letter r

   1 more example

   The sober-suited songstress trills her lay.

   a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Summer”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC

present singular third person trills · participle present trilling · participle past trilled · past trilled

1. intransitiveobsoleteTo trickle.

   Whisper'd sounds / Of waters, trilling from the riven stone.

   2 more examples

   I come now from seeing of a shepheard at Medoc[…]who had no signe at all of genitorie parts: But where they should be, are three little holes, by which his water doth continually tril from him.

   1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 30, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC

   And now and then an ample tear trilled down / Her delicate cheek.

   c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]

present singular third person trills · participle present trilling · participle past trilled · past trilled

1. intransitiveobsoleteTo twirl.

comparative triller · superlative trillest

1. slangAfrican-American VernacularTrue; respected.

   All my trill niggas know who be bringin da funk / Lees and shell toes like it's Black History Month

   2007, “Black History Month”, in The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!, performed by Saul Williams

   2 more examples

   LAMAR: Oh, really? That's a nice change from fools comin' up on us. / FRANKLIN: That's trill, homie. / LAMAR: You damn straight that's trill, partner, but it's a shame I don't believe it. You wanna drop some notes on that shit, I'll give you the odds, homie.

   2013, Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar Games, level/area: Repossession

   Middle finger to the critics, me and my nigga Skrillex / You know we finna kill it, A$AP we the trillest

   2013, “Wild for the Night”, performed by A$AP Rocky