From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpurrpurr /pɜː $ pɜːr/ verb 1 [intransitive]HBADHP if a cat purrs, it makes a soft low sound in its throat to show that it is pleased2 [intransitive]TE if the engine of a vehicle or machine purrs, it works perfectly and makes a quiet smooth sound The big Bentley purred along the road.3 [intransitive, transitive]SAY to speak in a soft low sexy voice ‘That feels good, ’ she purred. —purr noun [countable]→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
purr• "What a good idea, " she purred.• The cat looked into my eyes and began to purr.• The trembling had stopped, though the cat didn't yet purr.• The truck purred along the road, with the other truck following it.• And the idea that postural or emotional changes could bring on purring also seems far-fetched.• The engines became quieter, purring quite ordinarily as they approached these resting places.• Our limo purred smoothly down the tree-lined road.• A boat's engine, throttled back and purring softly, somewhere beyond the headland to the east.Origin purr (1600-1700) From the sound 