Chir

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To generate a quick, high-frequency sound similar to that of particular birds To create brief, lively sounds that are indicative of happiness or energy To make abrupt, sharp noises that can reflect eagerness or a request for notice
2. To produce a brief, sharp sound typically associated with small birds or insects
3. To utter a quick, light sound often related to joy or alertness

Etymology: "Chir" is an imitative word, formed to echo the sound it describes, and it belongs to a family of sound-words that includes "chirp," "chirr," and "chirk." English has had several of these short, high, rattling forms for centuries, and they overlap in meaning. "Chir" is best understood as a clipped variant of "chirr" or "chirp," not a word with its own separate history. Its exact early dates and spelling variants are not well documented, so the family resemblance, rather than a single traceable ancestor, is the most reliable thing to say about it.

Synonyms: tweet, chirp, call, sing