- [countable] (especially British English) a short loud laugh or shout
- The suggestion was greeted by hoots of laughter.
- He struggled through his speech while members of the audience interrupted with hoots and jeers.
- [singular] (informal) a situation or a person that you find very funny
- You ought to meet her—she's a hoot!
- The film was a real hoot!
- [countable] the loud sound made by the horn of a vehicle
- [countable] the call of an owlTopics Birdsc2
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘make sounds of derision’): perhaps imitative.
Idioms
See hoot in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionarynot care/give a hoot | not care/give two hoots
- (informal) not to care at all
- I don’t care two hoots about having money, as long as I’m happy.
Check pronunciation:
hoot