growl

Meaning

Noun

1. A deep, rumbling, threatening sound made in the throat by an animal.
2. (broadly) A similar sound made by a human.
3. (broadly) The rumbling sound made by a human's hungry stomach.
4. (broadly) An aggressive grumbling.
5. (broadly) A low-pitched rumbling sound produced with a wind instrument.
6. (broadly) Death growl

Verb

1. (intransitive) To utter a deep guttural sound, as an angry animal; to give forth an angry, grumbling sound.
2. (intransitive) Of a wind instrument: to produce a low-pitched rumbling sound.
3. (intransitive) To send a user a message via the Growl software library.
4. (transitive) To express (something) by growling.
5. (transitive) To play a wind instrument in a way that produces a low-pitched rumbling sound.
6. (intransitive) To perform death growl vocals.

Synonyms

snarl

grumble

roar

grunt

rumble

groan

murmur

bellow

howl

scold

mutter

growling

grouch

moo

moan

complain

snore

bleat

whinny

squeal

curse

gnarl

hum

bray

bark

neigh

carp

whistle

sough

roaring

reproach

purr

swear

disapprove

hiss

cry

😢

croak

vociferate

coo

blow up

comb

clobber

blow

bay

chide

chastise

grumbling

cant

blast

bawl out

Translations

grogner

gruñir

ringhiare

rosnar

knurren

gronder

grommen

gruñido

brüllen

mopperen

ringhio

grugnire

brummen

morren

brontolare

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɡɹaʊl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: groulen

Inherited from Old English: gryllan

Cognate with Middle Dutch: grollen

Cognate with Dutch: grollen

Cognate with German: grollen

Cognate with Old English: grillan

In summary

From Middle English groulen, grollen, gurlen (“of the bowels: to growl, rumble”), either possibly from Old French groler (variant of croler (“to be agitated, shake”)), grouler, grouller (“to growl, grumble”), from Frankish *grullen, *gruljan or from Old English gryllan, both from Proto-Germanic *gruljaną (“to make a sound; to growl, grumble, rumble”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰer- (“to make a noise; to mumble, murmur; to rattle; to grind; to rub, stroke”), probably ultimately imitative. The word is cognate with Middle Dutch grollen (“to make a noise; to croak, grumble, murmur; to be angry”) (modern Dutch grollen (“to grumble”)), German grollen (“to rumble; to be angry, bear ill will”), Old English grillan, griellan (“to provoke, offend; to gnash the teeth”). Compare grill.
The noun is derived from the verb.