One of my cats just miaowed in the background.
Steve was opening a tin of food for the cat, who was miaowing silently.
She would purr, but not miaow.
If, for example, you hear a miaow, you mentally classify this sound as a miaow.
Her cat came in and miaowed.
There cannot be a copyright as regards the word "miaow".
It can then be put into the boot of a car with a blanket thrown over it, and it will not miaow or bark as it enters the country.
It was miaowing to come out.