bleat Meaning & Definition
What Does Bleat Mean?
As a noun, bleat means The characteristic cry of a sheep or a goat. As a verb, it means Of a sheep, goat, or calf: to make its characteristic cry; of a human, to mimic this sound.
Bleat at a Glance
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈbliːt// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | blate, blat and baa |
| Plural | bleats |
| Verb forms | bleats, bleating, bleated |
Bleat Definition (Noun)
- The characteristic cry of a sheep or a goat.
Bleat as a Verb
- Of a sheep, goat, or calf: to make its characteristic cry; of a human, to mimic this sound.
- Of a person, to complain.
The last thing we need is to hear them bleating to us about organizational problems.
- Of a person, to say things of little importance to the listener.
Synonyms of Bleat
Bleat synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Bleat
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Bleat in a Sentence
The last thing we need is to hear them bleating to us about organizational problems.
Word Forms & Grammar
bleat (plural bleats)
bleat (third-person singular simple present bleats, present participle bleating, simple past and past participle bleated)
Words That Rhyme With Bleat
Origin of Bleat
Origin 1: From Middle English bleten, from Old English blǣtan (“to bleat”), from Proto-West Germanic *blātijan, from Proto-Germanic *blētijaną (“to bleat”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁- (“to howl, cry, bleat”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to make a loud noise”).
Origin 2: Cognate with Scots blete, bleit, West Frisian bâlte, blaaien, blêtsje (“to bleat”), Dutch blaten (“to bleat”), Low German bleten (“to bleat”), German blaßen, blässen (“to bleat”).
Bleat Pronunciation
The standard pronunciation of bleat is //ˈbliːt//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Questions People Ask About Bleat
Is bleat a noun or a verb?
Bleat is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for bleat?
You can replace bleat with words such as blate, blat and baa. See the full list of bleat synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of bleat?
The plural of bleat is bleats.
What is the past tense of bleat?
The past tense of bleat is bleated. The present participle is bleating.