yowl

/jaʊl/

Other forms: yowling; yowled; yowls

A yowl is a loud cry or howl, especially one that an animal makes. If you accidentally step on your cat's tail, you'll probably hear her yowl. Poor kitty.

Use this imitative word as a noun or a verb, any time you're describing a wild cry of distress. Your new puppy may yowl all night long the first couple of times you make him sleep in a crate at the foot of your bed — and if his yowling goes on too long, you may find yourself starting to yowl along with him.

Definitions of yowl

1. noun

   a very loud utterance (like the sound of an animal)
   synonyms: bellow, bellowing, holla, holler, hollering, hollo, holloa, roar, roaring

   type of:

   call, cry, outcry, shout, vociferation, yell

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

   cry loudly, as of animals
   synonyms: howl, wrawl, yammer

   type of:

   emit, let loose, let out, utter

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

   utter shrieks, as of cats
   synonyms: caterwaul

   type of:

   pipe, pipe up, shriek, shrill

   utter a shrill cry