howling

[ hou-ling ]
/ ˈhaʊ lɪŋ /

adjective

producing or uttering a howling noise: a howling mob.
desolate, dismal, or dreary: a howling wilderness.
Informal. very great; tremendous: a howling success.

Origin of howling

1250–1300; Middle English houlinge (gerund); see howl, -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM howling

howl·ing·ly, adverb

Definition for howling (2 of 2)

howl
[ houl ]
/ haʊl /

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

to utter with howls: to howl the bad news.
to drive or force by howls (often followed by down): to howl down the opposition.

noun

Origin of howl

1300–50; Middle English hulen, houlen (v.); cognate with Dutch huilen, Low German hülen, German heulen, Danish hyle; akin to Old Norse ȳla

OTHER WORDS FROM howl

out·howl, verb (used with object)

Example sentences from the Web for howling

British Dictionary definitions for howling (1 of 2)

howling
/ (ˈhaʊlɪŋ) /

adjective

(prenominal) informal (intensifier) a howling success; a howling error

Derived forms of howling

howlingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for howling (2 of 2)

howl
/ (haʊl) /

noun

a long plaintive cry or wail characteristic of a wolf or hound
a similar cry of pain or sorrow
slang
  1. a person or thing that is very funny
  2. a prolonged outburst of laughter
electronics an unwanted prolonged high-pitched sound produced by a sound-producing system as a result of feedback

verb

Word Origin for howl

C14: houlen; related to Middle High German hiuweln, Middle Dutch hūlen, Danish hyle