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bellow

/ˈbɛloʊ/
/ˈbɛləʊ/
IPA guide

Other forms: bellows; bellowed; bellowing

To bellow is to shout in a deep, angry voice. If you constantly bellow at other drivers on the road, consider signing up for anger management classes.

Bellow comes from Middle English, and means "to roar like a bull." A cow's deep moo is called a low, so bellow just adds a big angry bull to the standard moo. We use bellow for human speech that has that angry power of a loud bovine, or for any loud, threatening noise. It can be a noun, as in the bellow of the thundercloud, or a verb, as when you bellow at your kid brother.

Definitions of bellow
  1. verb
    make a loud noise, as of an animal
    “The bull bellowed
    synonyms: roar
    see moresee less
    type of:
    emit, let loose, let out, utter
    express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words)
  2. verb
    shout loudly and without restraint
    synonyms: bawl
    see moresee less
    type of:
    shout
    utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)
  3. noun
    a very loud utterance (like the sound of an animal)
    “his bellow filled the hallway”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    call, cry, outcry, shout, vociferation, yell
    a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
Pronunciation
US
/ˈbɛloʊ/
UK
/ˈbɛləʊ/
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