Meaning of the word plaintive in English

What does plaintive mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

plaintive

US /ˈpleɪn.t̬ɪv/
UK /ˈpleɪn.tɪv/
"plaintive" picture

Adjective

sounding sad and mournful

Example:
The dog let out a plaintive whine when its owner left.
We could hear the plaintive notes of a distant flute.