keening

verb

  1. 1

    To make cold, to sharpen.

verb

  1. 1

    To utter a keen.

  2. 2

    To utter with a loud wailing voice or wordless cry.

  3. 3

    To mourn.

noun

  1. 1

    Intense mournful wailing after a death, often at a funeral or wake

  2. 2

    (by extension) An unpleasant wailing sound.

adjective

  1. 1

    Sharp, shrill, especially of a sound.

    The keening sound of a dentist's drill sets my teeth on edge.

Translate “keening” to another language

Click any language to open the translator with this word already filled in.