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Webster 1913 Edition


Grumble

Grum′ble

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Grunbled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Grumbling
.]
[Cf. LG.
grummeln
,
grumen
, D.
grommelen
,
grommen
, and F.
grommeler
, of German origin; cf. W.
grwm
, murmur, grumble, surly. √35. Cf.
Grum
,
Grim
.]
1.
To murmur or mutter with discontent; to make ill-natured complaints in a low voice and a surly manner.
L’Avare, not using half his store,
Still
grumbles
that he has no more.
Prior.
2.
To growl; to snarl in deep tones;
as, a lion
grumbling
over his prey
.
3.
To rumble; to make a low, harsh, and heavy sound; to mutter;
as, the distant thunder
grumbles
.

Grum′ble

,
Verb.
T.
To express or utter with grumbling.

Grum′ble

,
Noun.
1.
The noise of one that grumbles.
2.
A grumbling, discontented disposition.
A bad case of
grumble
.
Mrs. H. H. Jackson.

Webster 1828 Edition


Grumble

GRUM'BLE

,
Verb.
I.
[Heb. to roar, murmur, thunder.]
1.
To murmur with discontent; to utter a low voice by way of complaint.
L'Avare, not using half his store,
Still grumbles that he has no more.
2.
To growl; to snarl; as a lion grumbling over his prey.
3.
To rumble; to roar; to make a harsh and heavy sound; as grumbling thunder; a grumbling storm. [In this sense, rumble is generally used.]

Definition 2024


grumble

grumble

English

Noun

grumble (plural grumbles)

  1. (onomatopoeia) A low thundering, rumbling or growling sound.
  2. The sound made by a hungry stomach.
  3. A complaint.
    That whiner is never without a grumble to share.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

grumble (third-person singular simple present grumbles, present participle grumbling, simple past and past participle grumbled)

  1. (intransitive) To make a low, growling or rumbling noise, like a hungry stomach or certain animals.
    The distant thunder grumbles.
    • 1995, Terry C. Johnston, Dance on the Wind, page 15:
      It made his stomach grumble in protest to think the mule was eating, and here he was worrying about her with an empty belly of his own.
  2. (intransitive) To complain; to murmur or mutter with discontent; to make ill-natured complaints in a low voice and a surly manner.
    He grumbles about the food constantly, but has yet to learn to cook.
  3. (transitive) To utter in a grumbling fashion.
    • 2001, Harry Willcox Pfanz, Gettysburg the first day‎
      He grumbled that there was no grain "in the country" and that people were talking instead of working to provide it.

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:complain

Derived terms

Translations

See also