yelp

UK: /ˈjɛlp/ US: /jɛlp/ ,(yelp)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

yelp /yɛlp/   v. 

1. to give a sharp, high-pitched cry:
   [no object] All the dogs were yelping.
2. to call or cry out sharply: [no object]
   He yelped in pain.
   [used with quotations]
   "Ouch!'' he yelped.

n. [countable]

3. a quick, sharp bark or cry.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

yelp (yelp),  v.i. 

1. to give a quick, sharp, shrill cry, as a dog or fox.
2. to call or cry out sharply:
   The boy yelped in pain when the horse stepped on his foot.

v.t. 

3. to utter or express by or as if by yelping.

n. 

4. a quick, sharp bark or cry.

• bef. 900; (verb, verbal) Middle English yelpen, Old English gielpan to boast; cognate with Low German galpen to croak; (noun, nominal) Middle English: boasting, Old English gielp, derivative of the verb, verbal

yelp′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

yelp / jɛlp/ verb (intransitive)

1. (esp of a dog) to utter a sharp or high-pitched cry or bark, often indicating pain

noun

1. a sharp or high-pitched cry or bark

Etymology: Old English gielpan to boast; related to Low German galpen to croak, Danish gylpe to croak

ˈyelper noun