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grunt Definition

grunt (grunt)

intransitive verb

  1. to make the short, deep, hoarse sound of a hog
  2. to make a sound like this, as in annoyance, contempt, effort, etc.

Etymology: ME grunten < OE grunnettan (akin to Ger grunzen), freq. of grunian, to grunt < IE *gru-, echoic > L grunnire

transitive verb

to express by grunting to grunt one's disapproval

noun

  1. the sound made in grunting
  2. any of a family (Haemulidae) of marine percoid fishes that grunt when removed from water
  3. Slang
    1. a U.S. infantryman, orig. in the war in Vietnam
    2. any person having or performing a low-prestige job involving routine tasks, strenuous labor, etc.

adjective

of, for, or done by a grunt grunt work

grunt Synonyms

grunt

v.

snort, squawk, squeak; see cry 3.

grunt Usage Examples

Object

  • noise: Well, sort of grunting noises, he would have told them.
  • sound: You will often hear a strange grunting sound too.
  • man: Good morning tea or away, grunted the man.
  • something: I grunted something, then turned back to greet her properly once I'd gotten the door open.

Converse of object

  • hear: About three bites into my meal I heard a grunt from behind me which might have been ` Move!
  • give: These plush toys are brightly colored and give a soft grunt when gentle pressure is applied.
  • make: CAPTION: Liberius, a five year old male chimpanzee, made different grunts to convey different types of food.
  • have: He had the grunts, the groans, the yelps, the breath of a goat.

Adjective modifier

  • loud: Norm were ready to climb on ' is cart an ' depart When he heard a loud grunt from a bush.
  • occasional: No confirming or denying anything they're saying beyond the occasional grunt.
  • low: Kuma start off the twilight roaring with his low grunts.
  • more: Equally, we can see it attracting business people, except the CPU needs more grunt.
  • few: Worse, he'll respond with a few grunts.

Modifies a noun

  • work: The grunt work is actually done in a number of ways.

Modifying Another Word

  • just: I just grunt a lot, my mind on heavier matters.
  • much: After much grunting and a short ladder I was amazed at the size of the chamber we arrived in.
  • only: Frequently there is no speech at all - only grunting.
  • loudly: Unlike the woman down the hall, who is grunting loudly to cries of " Push!

Used with why or when

  • when: He grunted again when his kneecaps hit sharply on the wooden floor.

Preposition: of

  • pain: I winced as he gave a grunt of pain and then toppled off the bed, landing in a heap at cal's feet.
grunt Quotes

Living next to you is like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered the beast, one is affected by every twitch and grunt.

—Trudeau, Pierre Elliott

Browse dictionary entries near grunt

  1. grunion
  2. grungy
  3. grunge
  4. Grundy
  5. grumpy
  6. grump
  7. grummet
  8. grume
  9. grumbling
  10. grumble
  1. grunter
  2. Grus
  3. Gruyère (cheese)
  4. gryphon
  5. GS
  6. GSA
  7. GSM
  8. GSTN
  9. gt
  10. Gt Brit