Howling

[hou-ling] /ˈhaʊ lɪŋ/

adjective
1.
producing or uttering a howling noise:
a howling mob.
2.
desolate, dismal, or dreary:
a howling wilderness.
3.
Informal. very great; tremendous:
a howling success.
[houl] /haʊl/
verb (used without object)
1.
to utter a loud, prolonged, mournful cry, as that of a dog or wolf.
2.
to utter a similar cry in distress, pain, rage, etc.; wail.
3.
to make a sound like an animal howling:
The wind howls through the trees.
4.
Informal. to go on a spree; enjoy oneself without restraint.
verb (used with object)
5.
to utter with howls:
to howl the bad news.
6.
to drive or force by howls (often followed by down):
to howl down the opposition.
noun
7.
the cry of a dog, wolf, etc.
8.
a cry or wail, as of pain, rage, or protest.
9.
a sound like wailing:
the howl of the wind.
10.
a loud, scornful laugh or yell.
11.
something that causes a laugh or a scornful yell, as a joke or funny or embarrassing situation.
/ˈhaʊlɪŋ/
adjective
1.
(prenominal) (informal) (intensifier): a howling success, a howling error
/haʊl/
noun
1.
a long plaintive cry or wail characteristic of a wolf or hound
2.
a similar cry of pain or sorrow
3.
(slang)

4.
(electronics) an unwanted prolonged high-pitched sound produced by a sound-producing system as a result of feedback
verb
5.
to express in a howl or utter such cries
6.
(intransitive) (of the wind, etc) to make a wailing noise
7.
(intransitive) (informal) to shout or laugh
v.

early 13c., houlen, probably ultimately of imitative origin; similar formations are found in other Germanic languages. Related: Howled; howling. As a noun from 1590s.

adjective

Conspicuously successful: The Peoples’ theatre is doing a howling biz (1887+)