gurgling

gurgling — verb

1. When a baby gurgles, the child makes a soft, contented bubbling sound deep in th

1.動詞不及物B1
釋義

When a baby gurgles, the child makes a soft, contented bubbling sound deep in the throat to show pleasure or happiness.

例句

While feeding her, Amani's baby sister gurgled and reached for the spoon.

gurgle + physical action (reached for)

Baby Sivan gurgled with delight when the puppy licked her tiny toes.

gurgle + with delight — emotion collocation

同義詞
  • coo

    softer, higher-pitched sound; also used for doves

  • babble

    less specific throat sound; implies experimenting with speech-like syllables

反義詞
  • cry

    loud distressed vocalisation, opposite emotion

  • wail

    long high-pitched cry of pain or unhappiness

文法句型

gurgle + with + emotion

用法筆記

Nearly always describes happy or contented babies under two years old. Less commonly applied to older children or adults, where it would sound either playful or medical.

常見錯誤

❌The toddler gurgled words to his mother.
✅The toddler babbled words to his mother.
💡'gurgle' describes the sound, not attempted speech; 'babble' is the right verb for early word-like sounds.

2. When water, especially in a small stream or a pipe, gurgles, it moves quickly an

2.動詞不及物B1
釋義

When water, especially in a small stream or a pipe, gurgles, it moves quickly and makes a low, repeated bubbling sound that people often find pleasant or soothing.

例句

A stream gurgled through the valley between two rows of old maple trees.

gurgle + through [location]

Élise turned on the garden tap, and water gurgled through the hose before spraying out.

同義詞
  • babble

    more poetic; suggests gentle, continuous talking-like flow

  • bubble

    focuses on air pockets in the water rather than the flow sound

  • murmur

    softer, less distinct; water sound at a distance

文法句型

gurgle + direction phrase

用法筆記

Describes the audible movement of water in natural settings (streams, brooks) or household systems (pipes, hoses, fountains). The connotation is generally pleasant; for unpleasant pipe sounds see sense 3.

3. To produce a bubbling or burbling noise similar to the sound of liquid moving th

3.動詞不及物B2
釋義

To produce a bubbling or burbling noise similar to the sound of liquid moving through a narrow or enclosed space, such as a pipe, a stomach, or a machine.

例句

Christopher's stomach gurgled loudly during the quiet exam, and a few students giggled.

part of body (stomach) as subject — bodily sound

The old coffee maker gurgled and hissed before producing a cup of strong coffee.

同義詞
  • bubble

    more specific to gas escaping through liquid; lighter sound

  • burble

    softer, more continuous; similar but less common

文法句型

gurgle + in/from/inside + [container/body part]

用法筆記

Covers gurgling sounds from non-water sources — human digestion, mechanical appliances, drains. The sound often suggests that something is blocked, working, or moving through a confined space. Can be humorous (stomach) or practical (plumbing).

常見錯誤

❌The drainpipe gurgled with delight.
✅The drainpipe gurgled as the water finally went down.
💡'with delight' is reserved for sense 1 (babies) and sounds unnatural for objects.