If someone wails, they make long, loud, high-pitched cries which express sorrow or pain. The women began to wail in mourning. a mother wailing for her lost child. Wail is also a noun. Wails of grief were heard as visitors filed past the site of the disaster
If something such as a siren or an alarm wails, it makes a long, loud, high-pitched sound. Police cars, their sirens wailing, accompanied the lorries Wail is also a noun. The wail of the bagpipe could be heard in the distance. + wailing wail·ing Our artillery opened up and we heard a fearful wailing and screeching
If you wail something, you say it in a loud, high-pitched voice that shows that you are unhappy or in pain. `Now look what you've done!' Shirley wailed Primrose, stupefied by tiredness, began to wail that she was hungry