Trill

Definition

A quavering or vibratory sound, particularly in music—a rapid alternation between two adjacent notes, or in speech, a rolling or trembling vocalization. The term also means to sing or speak with such a sound, or more recently, slang meaning something genuine, excellent, or cool.

Example Usage

The soprano's trill in the aria was technically perfect, and the slang 'that's trill' means that's authentically cool.

Origin

From Italian 'trillo' and likely imitative in origin, representing the effect of rapid pitch variation. Modern slang usage emerged from hip-hop culture.

Fun Fact

In music, a trill is one of the most technically demanding ornamentations and is a benchmark of vocal skill; in modern slang, it's become a marker of authenticity in hip-hop.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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