Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A howling, as of the wolf or dog; a wailing.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A howling, as of a dog or wolf; a wailing.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A long, loud, mournful cry or howl.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a long loud emotional utterance

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin ululātiō, from ululō ("I howl, yell, shriek").

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Examples

  • Suddenly she threw back her head, pointed her sharp muzzle to the sky, and gave voice to the long-drawn ululation which is the battle-cry of wolves.

    The Promise A Tale of the Great Northwest 1921

  • Gatz - I didn't think to save my entry before submitting it ... but it was to do with the thrill of discovering new music (and Tinariwen set me off on a monumental world music quest so felt legitimate to say something so seemingly cliched) then being accused of 'ululation' by the wife when caught singing along to it ...

    Word Magazine - Comments sunil 2010

  • Gatz - I didn't think to save my entry before submitting it ... but it was to do with the thrill of discovering new music (and Tinariwen set me off on a monumental world music quest so felt legitimate to say something so seemingly cliched) then being accused of 'ululation' by the wife when caught singing along to it ...

    Word Magazine - Comments 2010

  • They were now pressed together by the tens of thousands, and they exploded in a frenzy of cheering and ululation when he came onstage.

    Jacob’s Ladder 2009

  • Saturday morning I awake predawn to the harsh amplified ululation of the first prayer call.

    Richard Bangs: Bahrain: Once Was Paradise Richard Bangs 2011

  • Beyond Mr Jefferson's high black hat, through those tangled dew-drops of flame, Mr Goosevort saw golden hair glide softly through the oasis of bodies gathered vaguely round the stage, Mr Umberto and Mrs. Jefferson laughed again together, and Mr Howle's mournful ululation could be heard adrift a lake of rabble... golden hair turning away and fluttering into the shadow of a winding stairway.

    Mr Goosevort Ivan R. 2011

  • The latter are easy to understand, the former especially sopranos tend to incomprehensible ululation, even when singing in English.

    Notes and queries: What's the difference between operas and musicals? Is getting there quicker cheaper? The house where Handel and Hendrix lived 2011

  • They were now pressed together by the tens of thousands, and they exploded in a frenzy of cheering and ululation when he came onstage.

    Jacob’s Ladder 2009

  • Saturday morning I awake predawn to the harsh amplified ululation of the first prayer call.

    Richard Bangs: Bahrain: Once Was Paradise Richard Bangs 2011

  • Saturday morning I awake predawn to the harsh amplified ululation of the first prayer call.

    Richard Bangs: Bahrain: Once Was Paradise Richard Bangs 2011

Comments

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  • High-pitched vibrating tone created by moving the tongue rapidly back and forth while holding a note.

    February 2, 2008

  • In Arab countries ululation is commonly used by women to express celebration or grief, especially at weddings and funerals.

    It was used by Native American women of the Great Plains in much the same way.

    February 4, 2008