warble

present singular third person warbles · participle present warbling · participle past warbled · past warbled

1. transitiveTo modulate a tone's frequency.

   Synonyms: trill

2. transitiveTo sing like a bird, especially with trills.

   In the swamp in secluded recesses, / A shy and hidden bird is warbling a song.

   1865, Walt Whitman, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d”, in Sequel to Drum-Taps: When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d and other poems

   1 more example

   Her voice more sweet than warbling sound, Tho’ sung by nightingale or lark, Her eyes such lustre dart around, Compar’d to them the sun is dark.

   a. 1722, Matthew Prior, “Non Pareil”, in H. Bunker Wright, Monroe K. Spears, editors, The Literary Works of Matthew Prior, Second edition, volume I, Oxford: Clarendon Press, published 1971, page 683

3. transitiveTo cause to quaver or vibrate.

   touch the warbled string

   1634, John Milton, “Arcades”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC

4. intransitiveTo be quavered or modulated; to be uttered melodiously.

   The wailings of a maiden I recite, / A maiden fair, that Sparabella hight. / Such ſtrains ne'er warble in the linnet's throat, / Nor the gay goldfinch chaunts ſo ſweet a note, [...]

   1714, J[ohn] Gay, “Wednesday; or, The Dumps”, in The Shepherd’s Week. In Six Pastorals, London: […] R. Burleigh […], →OCLC, page 21

plural warbles

1. countableuncountableThe sound of one who warbles; singing with trills or modulations.

   The blackbirds and robins and and^([sic]) tits and finches shout at each other, chups and warbles and chirrups that, loosely translated, mean “Fancy a shag?”, “Get OFF my land” or “I’ve got a great big tonker.”

   2015 April 16, Richard P. Grant, “Sex and the successful fundraiser”, in The Guardian

2. countableuncountablegovernmentIn naval mine warfare, the process of varying the frequency of sound produced by a narrowband noisemaker to ensure that the frequency to which the mine will respond is covered.

plural warbles

1. A lesion under the skin of cattle, caused by the larva of a bot fly of genus Hypoderma.
2. A small hard swelling on a horse's back, caused by the galling of the saddle.