Howl v. i. [imp. & p. p. Howled p. pr. & vb. n. Howling.]
1. To utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do.
And dogs in corners set them down to howl. --Drayton.
Methought a legion of foul fiends
Environ'd me about, and howled in my ears. --Shak.
2. To utter a sound expressive of distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail.
Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand. --Is. xiii. 6.
3. To make a noise resembling the cry of a wild beast.
Wild howled the wind. --Sir W. Scott.
Howling monkey. Zool. See Howler, 2.
Howling wilderness, a wild, desolate place inhabited only by wild beasts. --Deut. xxxii. 10.
howling
adj 1: noisy with or as if with loud cries and shouts; "a crying
mass of rioters"; "a howling wind"; "shouting fans";
"the yelling fiend" [syn: crying, yelling, shouting]
2: extraordinarily good; used especially as intensifiers; "a
fantastic trip to the Orient"; "the film was fantastic!";
"a howling success"; "a marvelous collection of rare
books"; "had a rattling conversation about politics"; "a
tremendous achievement" [syn: fantastic, howling(a), marvelous,
marvellous, rattling(a), terrific, tremendous, wonderful,
wondrous]
n : a long loud emotional utterance; "he gave a howl of pain";
"howls of laughter"; "their howling had no effect" [syn:
howl, ululation]