gurgle

Gurgle is a word describing a bubbling or splashing sound produced by liquid moving in a confined space, such as a stomach, a pipe, or a container. As a verb, it means to make or emit such a sound; as a noun, it refers to the sound itself.

In medical or physiological contexts, "gurgle" can describe bubbling sounds heard with a stethoscope in the airways or digestive tract, or a gurgling sensation felt in the abdomen after eating. Clinicians may note gurgling sounds as part of examinations, though the presence or absence of a gurgle is not by itself diagnostic.

In everyday life, gurgling commonly occurs when water moves through pipes, when a bowl or sink drains, or when boiling liquids bubble and then settle. It is often used to convey the characteristic irregular, audible bubbling sound.

Etymology: The term comes from an attempt to imitate the sound. It has been used in English since Middle English. Related terms include burble and babble, which describe similar bubbly sounds.