🐱 A cat sound 🐱 To make cat sound

to miaow

1.9

To make the short high sound cats make

verb
/miˈaʊ/

: maullar

As I walked by, I heard a cat miaow softly in the bushes.

Examples

Stella began miaowing fiercely and struggling a bit.

Fiction book (1991)
It was only after they had quit and returned upstairs that they heard her, miaowing far above them.

Fiction book (1991)
Hope miaowed unhappily, a grasshopper sang out in the grass, the sun burnt Constantine's neck, and little by little some unnamed suspicion began to unfold in his mind.

Fiction book (2002)
The cat started to miaow loudly at the door, wanting to go outside.
When she saw the mouse, the kitten couldn't help but miaow excitedly.

Synonyms

to whimper

vsto miaow

69 3.3

To make a low, soft cry because of pain or fear

is a neutral cat vocalization not primarily expressing pain

to whine

vsto miaow

18 2.6

To make a long high, unpleasant sound like a machine

is a specific animal cry rather than a general high, unpleasant noise

to meow

vsto miaow

8 1.0

To make the short sound a cat makes

is the same sound but spelled differently in other varieties

to mewl

vsto miaow

2 9.9

To cry in a small, weak voice like a kitten or baby

is a normal, clearer cat cry rather than a weak plea

to waul

vsto miaow

Archaic

9.9

To make a loud, high, sad sound like a cat's cry

is the neutral, typical cat cry rather than a plaintive howl

to nyau

vsto miaow

9.9

To make a soft sound like a cat's meow

is the standard audible cat cry, not especially soft or quiet

to wheep

vsto miaow

9.9

To make a short high whistling sound like a small bird

is a fuller cat vocalization, not a brief high chirp

to wawl

vsto miaow

9.9

To make a long, high, sad noise like crying

is the typical cat vocal sound rather than a general distressed howl

to yow

vsto miaow

Informal

9.9

To let out a loud cry because of pain, surprise, or alarm

is a common cat sound that is usually softer and less sharp

Compounds

silent miaow

8.7

A very quiet sound a cat makes by opening its mouth with almost no sound

silent miaow

9.9

A quiet, weak complaint that people often ignore

How Loud

to screech

86 4.0

yowl

3 7.2

to miaow

1.9

mew

3 6.7

Surface Forms

miaow infinitive

miaowed past

miaowed past participle

miaowing present participle

miaows third person singular

Etymology

Miaow as a verb is the same kind of sound imitation, like meow, and it simply means 'to make the sound a cat makes', so to miaow is to cry like a cat.