noun / verb / interjection

meow

mee-OW/miˈaʊ/

The characteristic sound a cat makes.

The cat meows beside the closed door.

White-and-orange domestic cat meows at its owner by a closed door, mouth open naturally, no writing.

Etymology

Meow represents the sound of a cat’s cry rather than a combination of meaningful roots. Earlier English forms such as “miau” and “meaw” likewise attempted to capture that sound.

In context

Cat Academy1:58

feline meows don't all sound the exact same the basic meow is mid-length in duration and mid-pitched in tone and is the requesting something noise

How What Your Cat's Noises Mean?

More examples

A soft meow came from the basket.
She heard the kitten meowing.
Meow, said the child while pretending to be a cat.

Forms

meow · meows · meowed · meowing

Similar words

mew: Mew often suggests a softer cat cry.
yowl: Yowl describes a louder, more prolonged animal cry.