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grumble

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The definition of grumble is to make a low rumbling sound, or to complain or quietly express your bad temper.

(verb)

When thunder makes a low rumbly sound in the distance, this is an example of grumble.
When you are unhappy with the service at a restaurant and you mutter quietly about it to your table-mates, this is an example of a time when you grumble.

See grumble in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb grumbled, grumbling

to make low, unintelligible sounds in the throat; growl
to mutter or mumble in discontent; complain in a surly or peevish manner
to rumble, as thunder

Origin: prob. < Du grommelen, akin to Ger grummeln, OE gremman, to enrage: for IE base see grim

transitive verb

to express by grumbling

noun

the act of grumbling, esp. in complaint
a rumble

Related Forms:

grumbler noun
grumblingly adverb
grumbly adjective

See grumble in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb grum·bled, grum·bling, grum·bles

verb, intransitive

To complain in a surly manner; mutter discontentedly: “The governed will always find something to grumble about” (Crane Brinton).
To rumble or growl.

verb, transitive

To express in a grumbling discontented manner: grumbled a rude response.

noun

A muttered complaint.
A rumble; a growl.

Origin:

Origin: Probably Dutch grommelen, to mutter

Origin: , from Middle Dutch

Origin: , frequentative of grommen

Related Forms:

grumˈbler noun

grumˈbling·ly adverb

grumˈbly adjective

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