Howler: meaning, definitions and examples

Animal Behavior

• Howler monkeys are known as the loudest land mammals, with their calls carrying up to three miles through dense forests.
• These monkeys use their vocalizations to communicate with each other and claim territory, making their howls essential for social structure.
• Their loud calls help them find each other in their natural habitat, especially since they often live in large groups.

Cultural References

• The term 'howler' in journalism often refers to a mistake or blunder that is egregiously obvious but overlooked, much like a loud error.
• In American slang, a 'howler' can also describe a joke or story that is extremely funny, evoking loud laughter.
• Howler images also appear in folklore and popular culture, often symbolizing the wild or supernatural, linking back to their loud cries.

Literature

• In literature, howling often symbolizes sorrow or loss, seen in works where characters express grief through their howls.
• The 'howler' motif has been used in poetry to evoke loneliness or the call of nature, creating vivid imagery for readers.
• Famous stories often portray wolves and other howling creatures as guardians or omens, showing how their sounds resonate in narrative.

Music

• The 'howling' effect is often replicated in music to create an eerie, atmospheric sound, especially in horror films.
• Bands and musicians have referenced howling in their lyrics or album titles to convey a sense of wildness or freedom.
• Certain instruments, like the didgeridoo, can produce howling sounds, incorporating this natural phenomenon into cultural music.

Psychology

• Sounds, including howls, can evoke strong emotional responses, connected to our primal instincts for alertness or danger.
• Study of animal sounds like howls can enhance our understanding of communication, both human and non-human, revealing social dynamics.
• Howling can also symbolize the expression of intense feelings, such as loneliness or excitement, illustrated in therapeutic contexts.

This word's position of #34,737 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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• 34734 hypothesizing
• 34735 untangled
• 34736 platypus
• 34737 howler
• 34738 stocktaking
• 34739 chasuble
• 34740 subornation
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