growl Hear it!

growl definition

growl (gro̵ul)

intransitive verb

  1. to make a low, rumbling, menacing sound in the throat, as a dog does
  2. to complain in an angry or surly manner
  3. to rumble, as thunder, cannons, etc.

Etymology: ME groulen, to rumble, prob. of echoic orig.

transitive verb

to express by growling

noun

  1. the act or sound of growling
  2. ☆ Jazz a low, rough, husky, often muted sound produced on a trumpet, trombone, etc.

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

growl Synonyms

growl

n.

  1. A low, beastlike sound

    snarl, gnarl, gnar*, moan*, bark*, bellow*, rumble*, roar*, howl*, grumble*, grunt. *

  2. Speech resembling a growl, sense 1

    grumble, rumble, mumble; see noise 1.


growl

v.

  1. To make a low, deep sound

    snarl, gnarl, gnar*; see grumble 2.

  2. To speak as if growling

    snarl, grumble, upbraid; see complain 1, scold.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

growl Usage Examples

Object

  • vocal: Strong growling vocals lead the way with catchy horn parts blasting out all over the place.

Converse of object

  • hear: Then she heard a long low growl that shook the floor beneath her.

Adjective modifier

  • throaty: The throaty growl is the same and so hearing it will be a nostalgic sound for many people, " added Mr Brown.

Modifying Another Word

  • softly: To Jolen secretly: Kiania growls softly Jolen tells you: Come back, Kiania.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • out: He growls out his displeasure, - ' tis a shame!

Used with why or when

  • when: And then it's just as sensible to stand over the corpse growling when anyone else approaches.
growl usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

growl quotes

I hate a fellow whom pride, or cowardice, or laziness drives into a corner, and who does nothing when he is there but sit and growl; let him come out as I do, and bark.

-Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson

growl quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"growl." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/growl>

APA Style

growl. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/growl

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