• IPA: /tɹɪl/, [t̠ʰɹ̠̊ɪl]

trill (plural trills)

1. (music) A rapid alternation between an indicated note and the one above it, in musical notation usually indicated with the letters tr written above the staff.
2. (phonetics) A type of consonantal sound that is produced by vibrations of the tongue against the place of articulation: for example, Spanish rr.
3. A tremulous high-pitched vocal sound produced by cats.

• French: trille
• German: Triller
• Italian: trillo
• Portuguese: trilo, trino, trinado
• Russian: трель
• Spanish: trino

• French: consonne roulée
• German: Vibrant
• Italian: consonante vibrante, trillo
• Portuguese: vibrante
• Russian: вибри́рующий согла́сный

trill (trills, present participle trilling; past and past participle trilled)

1. (intransitive) To create a trill sound; to utter trills or a trill; to play or sing in tremulous vibrations of sound; to have a trembling sound; to quaver.

   • To judge of trilling notes and tripping feet.

2. (transitive) To impart the quality of a trill to; to utter as, or with, a trill.

   to trill a note, or the letter r

   • The sober-suited songstress trills her lay.

3. (intransitive, obsolete) To trickle.
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 30, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes, […], book II, printed at London: By Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821 ↗:

     I come now from seeing of a shepheard at Medoc […] who had no signe at all of genitorie parts: But where they should be, are three little holes, by which his water doth continually tril from him.

   • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act IV, scene iii]:

     And now and then an ample tear trilled down / Her delicate cheek.

   • Whispered sounds / Of waters, trilling from the riven stone.

4. (intransitive, obsolete) To twirl.

• roll

• French: triller