croak Definition
croak (krōk)
intransitive verb
- to make a deep, hoarse sound, as that of a frog or raven
- to speak in deep, hoarse tones
- to talk dismally; foretell evil or misfortune; grumble
- Slang to die
Etymology: ME croken < OE *cracian < cræcettan, to make sounds like a raven < IE base *ger- (> crake, crane, crow), of echoic orig.
transitive verb
- to utter in deep, hoarse tones
- Slang to kill
noun
a croaking sound
croak Related Forms
croak′y (-ē) adjective croak′i·er, croak′i·est
croak Synonyms
croak
v.
croak Usage Examples
Object
- frog: The boat - grounded in the shallows collects water-plants croaking frogs pale fish.
- voice: It belongs to Godwin the smith, " said the demon, with a hissing croaking voice.
- raven: Ware that wicked fruit of knowledge, ' croaked the raven of the Churches.
- sound: Added to the scenario is a Chinese Pond-Heron taking off with a croaking sound from the marsh.
- call: It lives in southern Mexico and Central and South America and can actually identify which frogs are good to eat by their croaking calls!
- noise: The imp responded to this affection by making a soft croaking noise.
Converse of object
- make: Whilst male frogs make a quiet, low-pitched call during the breeding season, toads make a louder, higher croak.
- have: But it wasn't a joke that he had a high croak And walked with a bit of a mince.
- give: The Frogman felt he had been insulted, so he gave a loud croak of indignation and turned away.
- crow: When sheep are restless and crows croak more than usual, wet weather is probable.
Adjective modifier
- hoarse: Worse still when they tried to bark at us nothing happened except for a tiny hoarse croak.
- harsh: Call The Cormorant is mostly silent, but occasionally makes a harsh croak.
- deep: A distant motorbike sounds like the deep croak of the frogs.
Modifying Another Word
- loudly: Nothing stirred over the vast expanse save a pair of ravens, which croaked loudly from a tor behind us.
- badly: SMITH ventures a few badly croaked and abysmal renditions of the ballads which groaned through every student bedsit in the seventies.
Noun used with modifier
frog: Frogs croak from the pond and ditches, where they breed alongside toads.
Preposition: of
- frog: On the beach, Sawyer struggles to sleep due to the annoying croak of a tree frog.
- raven: Once or twice I heard the less- musical croaking of a raven - there are only a few on the island.
Preposition: like
Browse dictionary entries near croak
- ‹ Cro-Magnon
- ‹ CRM
- ‹ critter
- ‹ critique
- ‹ criticize
- ‹ criticism
- ‹ criticise
- ‹ criticaster
- ‹ critical volume
- ‹ critical temperature

