groan
noun
- act or process of uttering with a groan
verb
- to complain, moan
- to utter with a groan
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈɡɹəʊ̯n/ / /ˈɡɹɵ̞ʊ̯n/ / /ˈɡɹoʊ̯n/
noun
Etymology: From Middle English gronen, granen, from Old English grānian (“to groan; lament; murmur”), from Proto-West Germanic *grainōn, from Proto-Germanic *grainōną (“to howl; weep”), from Proto-Germanic *grīnaną (“to whine; howl; whimper”). Cognate with Scots grain (“to cry, scream”), Dutch grijnen, grienen (“to cry; sob; blubber”), German Low German grienen (“to whimper; mewl”), German greinen (“to whine; whimper”), Swedish grina (“to howl; weep; laugh”). The noun is from Middle English gron, grone, from the verb.
- A low, mournful sound uttered in pain or grief.
“let out a groan”
- A low, guttural sound uttered in frustration, disapproval, or ecstasy.
- A low creaking sound from applied pressure or weight.
verb
Etymology: From Middle English gronen, granen, from Old English grānian (“to groan; lament; murmur”), from Proto-West Germanic *grainōn, from Proto-Germanic *grainōną (“to howl; weep”), from Proto-Germanic *grīnaną (“to whine; howl; whimper”). Cognate with Scots grain (“to cry, scream”), Dutch grijnen, grienen (“to cry; sob; blubber”), German Low German grienen (“to whimper; mewl”), German greinen (“to whine; whimper”), Swedish grina (“to howl; weep; laugh”). The noun is from Middle English gron, grone, from the verb.
- To make a groan.
“We groaned at his awful jokes.”
“The wooden table groaned under the weight of the banquet.”
- To seemingly creak under the strain of being heavily laden.
“That night the table in the outer dining room was just groaning with good things.”
“Bookshelves groan under the bloated weight of tomes detailing Great Straight Marriages.”
- To strive after earnestly, as if with groans.
“Nothing but holy, pure, and clear, / Or that which groaneth to be so.”