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# purr

verb (purr, purrs, purred, purring); noun (a purr, purrs)

«purr» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. When a cat purrs, it makes a low, soft, rumbling sound in its throat, usually when it is happy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purr/#m1)
2. A purr is that sound. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purr/#m2)
3. A machine such as an engine purrs when it makes a quiet, smooth humming sound. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purr/#m3)

### In the lessons

In stories a purr tells the reader a cat is calm and content (though cats sometimes purr when hurt or scared too); for engines it means running smoothly. Phrases: «purr loudly», «a soft purr», «purr with pleasure».

### Examples

- The kitten purred on my lap. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purr/#x1)
- I could feel the cat's purr when I stroked her. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purr/#x2)
- Our cat purrs whenever you scratch behind her ears. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purr/#x3)
- The new car's engine purred quietly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purr/#x4)
- Lions cannot purr, but they can roar. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purr/#x5)
- She heard a gentle purr from under the blanket. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purr/#x6)
- The cat purred loudly and closed its eyes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purr/#x7)
- “Nay,” purred Bagheera, “that may not be. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purr/#x8)

### Note

Double the r before -ed and -ing: purred, purring. Do not confuse with «per» or «pur-». A purring cat is usually happy, but a sick or frightened cat may purr too, so it is not a promise you can pick it up.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «purr» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purr/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«purr» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/purr.html) on Mova free.