wow1

[wou] /waʊ/
interjection
1.
(an exclamation of surprise, wonder, pleasure, or the like):
Wow! Look at that!
verb (used with object)
2.
to gain an enthusiastic response from; thrill.
noun
3.
an extraordinary success:
His act is a real wow.
4.
excitement, interest, great pleasure, or the like:
a car that will add some wow to your life.
Origin
1890-95; perhaps identical with Scots wow! exclamation of surprise or admiration

wow2

[wou] /waʊ/
noun
1.
Audio. a slow wavering of pitch in sound recording or reproducing equipment caused by uneven speed of the turntable or the tape.
Compare flutter (def 12).
2.
Scot. and North England Dialect. a howl, wail, bark, whine, or mew.
verb (used without object)
3.
Scot. and North England Dialect. to howl, wail, bark, whine, or mew.
Origin
1800-10 for defs 2-3; 1930-35 for def 1; imitative; the audio term is probably an independent formation
Examples from the web for wow
  • Whatever their provenance, the bracelets are enough to wow even seasoned researchers.
  • wow your friends with a chemically goosed false egg.
  • It's about the wow factor, and these cars sure have it.
  • wow that's a great innovative idea you have given to attract the bees.
  • wow, my dictionary for all these names and terms is spinning my head.
  • wow, some rather vitriolic commentary in the comments.
  • wow, the divergence of opinion is really intriguing.
  • Frying sage leaves is easy and provides a real wow factor.
  • wow you really are living in some sort of other world.
  • wow, yes, people need to be careful because you don't always get what you ask for.
British Dictionary definitions for wow

wow1

/waʊ/
interjection
1.
an exclamation of admiration, amazement, etc
noun
2.
(slang) a person or thing that is amazingly successful, attractive, etc
verb
3.
(transitive) (slang) to arouse great enthusiasm in
Word Origin
C16: originally Scottish, expressive of surprise, amazement, etc

wow2

/waʊ; wəʊ/
noun
1.
a slow variation or distortion in pitch that occurs at very low audio frequencies in sound-reproducing systems, such as a record player, usually due to variation in speed of the turntable, etc See also flutter (sense 14)
Word Origin
C20: of imitative origin

WOW

abbreviation
1.
waiting on weather: used esp in the oil industry
Word Origin and History for wow
interj.

1510s, Scottish interjection, a natural expression of amazement. "This old interjection had a new popularity in the early 1900s and again during the 1960s and later" [DAS].

v.

"overwhelm with delight or amazement," 1924, American English slang, from wow (interj.). Related: Wowed; wowing. Used as a noun meaning "unqualified success" since 1920.

Slang definitions & phrases for wow

wow 1

interjection

(also wowee-kazowee or wowie-kazowie) An exclamation of pleasure, wonder, admiration, surprise, etc •This old interjection had a new popularity in the early 1900s and again during the 1960s and later: Wow, what a nice voice you have!/ Oh, wow, far out!/ Hey, wow!/ I have a PhD in communications from UCLA. Well, wowee-kazowee!/ Big rock-'n'-roll concerts are often as much about wowiekazowie production values, video, neon, fireworks, suggestively costumed young men and women, as music (entry form 1513+, variants 1990s+)

noun
  1. Something very exciting and successful; a sensation: It would be a wow of a scrap/ a wow of a line! (1920+)
  2. A theatrical success; boffola, hit (1920s+ Show business)
verb

To impress someone powerfully and favorably; KNOCK someone DEAD, lay them in the aisles: wondering whether he'll make a fraternity and whether or not he'll wow the girls/ all self-proclaimed poets who, to wow an audience, utter some resonant line (1920s+ Show business)

Related Terms

powwow

[echoic of a bark or howl of approval]


wow 2

noun

An intrusive wavering sound from a record player, usually caused by uneven running of the turntable

[1930s+ Electronics; echoic of a howl or yowl]


Related Abbreviations for wow

WOW

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