to blat

9.6

To make a loud, crying sound like a lamb or goat

verb
/blæt/

: balar

The next time he awoke, it was to a brash bugle call in his head, blatting a musical reveille. Good morning, Triton!

Examples

I try to hold her away from my body and run with her, and it makes her start blatting.

Fiction book (1992)
Reacher sometimes heard it in the early afternoons, rumbling and blatting around the blocks where he was working.

Fiction book (2000)
The sheep began to blat loudly when the farmer approached with food.
As the car drove past, it started blatting its horn to get attention.
The calf was blatting for its mother in the warm afternoon sun.

Synonyms

to bark

vsto blat

109 1.0

To make a sharp loud sound like a dog

is harsher and often more plaintive rather than short sharp dog calls

to roar

vsto blat

98 1.0

To make a loud deep continuous sound like an animal, crowd, or machine

is usually higher and more plaintive rather than deep and continuous

to screech

vsto blat

86 4.0

To make a loud, high, sharp sound that startles people

is typically more plaintive or hornlike than sharply piercing

to shriek

vsto blat

72 2.9

To make a loud high sound often because of fear, pain or excitement

is more plaintive or hornlike rather than a sharp emotional outburst

to squeal

vsto blat

61 3.0

To make a long, high sound like a pig or excited child

is often lower and harsher instead of a long high-pitched sound

to blare

vsto blat

50 3.8

To make a loud harsh sound that hurts your ears, like a siren

is often more animal-like or plaintive rather than a mechanical blast

to ring out

vsto blat

26 3.6

To make a loud clear sound that people can hear far away

is harsher and more plaintive, often animal or horn sounding

to whine

vsto blat

18 2.6

To make a long high, unpleasant sound like a machine

is harsher and shorter and often sounds hornlike rather than long

to cackle

vsto blat

18 6.0

To make a loud high sound like a hen or laugh in a loud harsh way

is more plaintive and animal or horn sounding rather than laughing

to squawk

vsto blat

16 4.7

To make a loud, harsh cry like a bird

is less abrupt and can be more plaintive or hornlike

to quack

vsto blat

7 1.0

To make the loud harsh sound a duck makes

is broader and often plaintive or hornlike beyond duck sounds

to bleat

vsto blat

5 6.0

To make a short, high sound like a sheep or goat

is broader, applying to other loud harsh sounds like horns

to shrill

vsto blat

3 4.8

To make a very high, sharp sound often as a cry

is harsher and more plaintive, not only high-pitched

to squall

vsto blat

2 7.2

To make a loud high sound like a baby or bird

is often lower or more plaintive rather than strictly high-pitched

to hoot

vsto blat

1 2.2

To make a loud, deep sound like an owl or a car horn

is usually sharper and more plaintive than deep clear calls

to blare out

vsto blat

1 4.3

Make a very loud sound to get people's attention

is more an animal or horn noise rather than a loud broadcast

to baa

vsto blat

5.9

To make the short sound a sheep or lamb makes

is used more widely for many loud harsh or plaintive noises

to yawp

vsto blat

9.9

Make a loud, rough sound like a shout to show anger or complaint

is often more plaintive or hornlike rather than raucous

to skreak

vsto blat

9.9

To make a loud, high, harsh sound like a scream

is often more plaintive or low rather than screaming and sharp

to screak

vsto blat

9.9

To make a short, high, harsh sound like an owl or old gate

is usually more plaintive or hornlike rather than high and shrill

to racket

vsto blat

4.9

To make a loud, unpleasant noise that disturbs people

is usually a single harsh animal or horn sound, not many noises

to baw

vsto blat

Archaic

9.8

To shout loudly to get someone's attention from far away

is an animal or horn noise rather than human shouting

How Loud

to roar

98 1.0

to blare

50 3.8

to blast

66 4.1

to blat

9.6

to bleat

5 6.0

Surface Forms

blat infinitive

blatted past

blatted past participle

blatting present participle

blats third person singular

Etymology

Blat comes from the sound itself — it copies the loud, rough cry of sheep or calves and is like the common word bleat. So, to blat means 'to make a loud, harsh, or plaintive noise', like an animal calling or a horn sounding.