purr
UK: pɜː | US: pɜːr
n. a low, continuous, vibrating sound made by a cat, typically expressing contentment
vi. (of a cat) to make such a sound
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"Purr" is an onomatopoeic word, directly imitating the soft, rhythmic sound produced by cats. First recorded in English in the early 17th century, it reflects the natural tendency of languages to mimic animal sounds (e.g., "meow," "buzz"). Unlike compound words, its structure cannot be divided into morphemes—it exists as a unified phonetic representation of the sound itself.
The kitten curled up and began to purr softly.
A loud purr echoed from the cat as it napped in the sunlight.
She smiled when she heard her cat purr against her lap.
The vet noted that the cat’s purr indicated relaxation.
Some cats purr to self-soothe during stressful situations.