trill

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trill / tril/ • n. a quavering or vibratory sound, esp. a rapid alternation of sung or played notes: they heard the muffled trill of the telephone the caged bird launched into a piercing trill. ∎  the pronunciation of a consonant, esp. r, with rapid vibration of the tongue against the hard or soft palate or the uvula.• v. [intr.] produce a quavering or warbling sound: a skylark was trilling overhead | [with direct speech] “Coming sir,” they both trilled. ∎  [tr.] sing (a note or song) with a warbling or quavering sound: trilling a love ballad, she led him to her chair. ∎  [tr.] pronounce (a consonant) by rapid vibration of the tongue against the hard or soft palate or the uvula.

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