chirp

views updated Jun 27 2018

chirp / chərp/ • v. [intr.] (typically of a small bird or an insect) utter a short, sharp, high-pitched sound. ∎ (of a person) say something in a lively and cheerful way: “Good morning!” chirped Alex.• n. a short, sharp, high-pitched sound.DERIVATIVES: chirp·er n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

chirp

views updated Jun 11 2018

chirp utter a short sound as a bird, etc. XV. alt. of earlier chirk (XIV; cf. OE ċearcian) or chirt (XIV).
Hence chirrup XVI.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

CHIRP

views updated May 17 2018

CHIRP (tʃʔːp) Civil aviation Confidential Human Incidence Reporting Programme (pilots' comments on safety trends)

The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH