bleat

Everyday

1. The shaky «baa» sound a sheep, lamb or goat makes. tree →
2. To make that sound. tree →
3. (informal) To complain in a weak, whining way, as in «stop bleating about it». tree →

In the lessons

In science and farm lessons it is the name of the sheep's and goat's call (like a dog barks and a cow moos). In stories it tells the reader there are sheep nearby or that a character is moaning in a feeble way. Phrases: «bleat on about».

Examples

• The lambs bleated for their mothers. tree →
• We heard the bleat of a goat in the field. tree →
• A sheep bleats, a dog barks and a cow moos. tree →
• The little lamb gave a sad bleat. tree →
• Stop bleating about your homework and just do it! (informal) tree →
• The goats bleated when the farmer brought hay. tree →
• He bleated that it was not fair. tree →

Note

Regular verb: bleated, bleating. Countable noun: a bleat. Rhymes with «sheet». Animal sounds: sheep and goats bleat, horses neigh, pigs oink or grunt, ducks quack.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Samuel hears the sheep that Saul kept, which proves Saul disobeyed God's command. Tradition notes that the animals themselves reveal the truth. In the primary lessons: In science and farm lessons it is the name of the sheep's and goat's call (like a dog barks and a cow moos). In stories it tells the reader there are sheep nearby or that a character is moaning in a feeble way. Phrases: «bleat on about».

Examples

• And Samuel said: 'What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?' (Prophets 1SA.15.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Regular verb: bleated, bleating. Countable noun: a bleat. Rhymes with «sheet». Animal sounds: sheep and goats bleat, horses neigh, pigs oink or grunt, ducks quack.