tweedle

• Verbe vieilli signifiant jouer une mélodie légère ou trillée sur un instrument de musique, en particulier une flûte ou un pipeau ; il désignait aussi le fait d'attirer ou de convaincre par la flatterie.

An archaic or obsolete verb meaning to play a tune on a musical instrument, especially a flute or pipe, in a light or trilling manner; also used to mean to entice or cajole by flattery.

1. Sing in modulationC2informal

   To sing with a light, trilling, or modulating tone.

   chanter en trilles

   • The minstrel would tweedle a cheerful tune for the children.
   • She tweedled softly to herself while working in the garden.
   • The birds seemed to tweedle in response to her humming.

   Synonymeschirppipequavertrilltwitterwarble

2. Play negligently on a musical instrumentC2informal

   To play a musical instrument in a casual, careless, or unskilled manner.

   Jouer négligemment d'un instrument

   • He sat at the piano and tweedled a few random notes.
   • The guitarist tweedled on his instrument, not really playing a song.
   • She tweedled on the flute while waiting for her lesson to start.

   Synonymespipestrumtootlewhistle

3. Entice through the use of musicC2informal

   To lure or attract someone by playing music.

   Attirer par la musique

   • The piper tweedled the children into following him.
   • He tried to tweedle the shy girl out of her corner with a gentle melody.
   • The street musician tweedled passersby into stopping and listening.

   Synonymesbeguilecharmenticelure