cheep

Everyday

1. (of a young bird) To make a short, high, weak sound. tree →
2. A short high sound made by a young bird. tree →
3. (informal) A tiny sound from anyone: "Not a cheep out of you!" means be quiet. tree →

In the lessons

In nature stories baby birds cheep in the nest for food. In everyday talk "not a cheep" means not a single sound or complaint. Similar sound words: chirp, tweet, peep, chirrup.

Examples

• The baby birds cheeped for food. tree →
• We heard a tiny cheep from the hedge. tree →
• The chicks were cheeping in the box. tree →
• The sparrows cheeped on the windowsill. tree →
• I don't want to hear a cheep out of you till morning! tree →
• Every cheep meant the nest was still busy. tree →
• He whimpers and cheeps all the night, trying to make up his mind to run into the middle of the room. tree →

Note

Homophone: "cheap" (low in price). Cheep is a bird sound; cheap is about money. Trap in spelling tests!