hoot

/hut/

/hut/

Other forms: hooted; hooting; hoots

A hoot is the musical call an owl makes. The hoot of an owl sounds very much like the word hoot.

An owl's hoot is the inspiration for a similar sound that people make to show disapproval or scorn: "The sound of the crowd's hoots filled the stadium when the soccer player kicked the ball into his own team's goal." To make this sound, whether you're a person or an owl, is to hoot, and if you don't give a hoot, it means you really don't care at all.

Definitions of hoot

1. noun

   a loud raucous cry (as of an owl)
   type of:

   call, cry, outcry, shout, vociferation, yell

   a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
2. noun

   a cry or noise made to express displeasure or contempt
   synonyms: Bronx cheer, bird, boo, hiss, raspberry, razz, razzing, snort

   type of:

   call, cry, outcry, shout, vociferation, yell

   a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
3. verb

   utter the characteristic sound of owls
   type of:

   emit, let loose, let out, utter

   express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words)
4. verb

   to utter a loud clamorous shout
   types:

   pant-hoot

   communicate by hooting and panting, as of primates

   grunt-hoot

   communicate by hooting and grunting, as of primates

   type of:

   emit, let loose, let out, utter

   express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words)
5. noun

   something of little value
   synonyms: darn, red cent

   type of:

   ineptitude, worthlessness

   having no qualities that would render it valuable or useful