The vibrating sound made by a cat in its throat when contented.
Instead, the tiger looked around, and gave a purr, and then a growl. What did that mean? The man could not tell. Then the tiger just flung upon the man some of the sand from the side of the hollow. 1918, Sarath Kumar Ghosh, The wonders of the jungle - Volume 2, page 113:
A throaty, seductive sound of pleasure made by a person.
The trill of her purr echoed inside his mouth when he kissed her again. Clutching at his shirt, her fingers traveled the muscles in his back. 2006, Brenda Williamson, Wolverton Blood, page 53:
The low consistent rumble made by an engine at slow speed
I sat still in the car and listened to the soft purr of the engine and my beating heart. Then slowly, and as silently as possible, I drove the car back to camp. 1997, Susan Wood, A Fly in Amber, page 191:
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purrs
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Translations (37)
sk pradenie (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · cy grwndi (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · el γουργούρισμα (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · ota طر (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · nl spinnen (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · ia ronron (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · bg мъркане (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · tr mırlama (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · es jirjir (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · pt ronrom (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · cmn 咕嚕咕嚕聲 /咕噜咕噜声 (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · ga crónán (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · ru мурлы́канье (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · cmn 貓喘鳴 /猫喘鸣 (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · fr ronron (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · fi kehräys (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · tr mırıltı (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · sh predenje (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · ka კრუტუნი (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · hi घुरघुराहट (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · es ronroneo (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · ro tors (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · cy crwth (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · wa ronflaedje (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · hu dorombolás (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · ar خَرْخَرَة (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · cmn 貓喘音 /猫喘音 (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · it fusa (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · pl mruczenie (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · sh предење (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · ms dengkur (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · fr ronronnement (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · de Schnurren (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · tr mır (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · fi kehrääminen (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · wa ronfelmint (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented) · pt rom-rom (vibrating sound made by a cat when contented)
(intransitive, of a cat) To make a vibrating sound in its throat when contented or in certain other conditions.
There was no one at home but a black cat, who was sitting quite content and purring on the hearth[.] 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 278:
(transitive) To say (something) in a throaty, seductive manner.
"This is Cindy," she purred again, flashing a smile of perfect white teeth surrounded by full red lips. 2008, C. E. Osborne, Black Gold Death in the Sun, page 12:
(intransitive) To make a vibrating throaty sound, as from pleasure.
He purred like a kitten when she massaged his neck.
(intransitive, with over) To spend time enjoying and expressing pleasure (over something); to coo; to enthuse.
No woman receiving her first mink would ever put it directly into storage. She would try it on and purr over it. 1971, Donald J. Sobol, More Two-Minute Mysteries, page 36:
(intransitive, of an engine) To make a low and consistent rumbling sound.
Beverly passed the city limits sign with the Porsche's motor purring contentedly after its two hundred and fifty-mile romp. 2001, E. C. Craver, Last Reunion, page 159:
Forms
Spelling
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purrs
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
purred
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
purred
Tense=Past
lexicographic
purring
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
Translations (81)
hu dorombol (of an engine: to make a low rumbling sound) · pl mruczeć (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · eu urrumatu (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · ca roncar (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · cy canu grwndi (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · be мурлы́каць (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · lv murrāt (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · eo ronroni (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · de schnurren (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · sv spinna (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · ro toarce (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · izh urissa (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · tr gırlamak (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · mk преде (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · el γουργουρίζω (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · pl mruknąć (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · ar هَرْهَرَ (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · ms mendengkur (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · ja ごろごろいう (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · izh kedrätä (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · el χουρχουρίζω (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · cmn 發出喉音 /发出喉音 (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · fi kehrätä (to make a vibrating throaty sound) · ka კრუტუნებს (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · bg бръмча (of an engine: to make a low rumbling sound) · ru промурлы́кать (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · uk муркоті́ти (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · ga bí ag crónán (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · izh laulaa (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · vi khò khò (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · pl mruczeć (of an engine: to make a low rumbling sound) · gl rosmar (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · fi kehrätä (of an engine: to make a low rumbling sound) · es ronronear (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · pt ronronar (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · nl spinnen (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · crh mıravlamaq (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · hi घुरघुराना (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · kk пырылдау (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · fr dire d'une voix suave et posée (to speak in a seductive manner) · cmn 打呼嚕 /打呼噜 (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · ja 鳴く (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · be му́ркаць (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · nv biyiʼ hodiitsʼaʼ (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · pl mruknąć (of an engine: to make a low rumbling sound) · cmn 咕嚕咕嚕叫 /咕噜咕噜叫 (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · hu duruzsol (of an engine: to make a low rumbling sound) · ltg ņurruot (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · bg мъркам (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · ko 가르랑거리다 (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · is mala (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · fi kehrätä (to speak in a seductive manner) · fi kehrätä (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · sh prȅsti (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · uk воркота́ти (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · it fare le fusa (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · da spinde (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · lt murkti (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · cs příst (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · no male (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · wa ronfler (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · sh прести (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · yi מרוקען (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · tr mırlamak (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · uk воркоті́ти (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · ar خَرْخَرَ (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · be курня́ўкаць (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · fr ronronner (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · hi घुरघुरकरना (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · ia ronronar (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · vi gừ gừ (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · fa خرخر کردن (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · ca ronronejar (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · ru мурлы́кать (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · nrf ronner (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · sv kurra (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · hu dorombol (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · sk priasť (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · yi מורקען (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · vi rừ rừ (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat) · uk муркота́ти (of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in the throat)