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

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