/ rɑːsp; NAmE ræsp/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ sing. ] a rough unpleasant sound
2.
[ C ] a metal tool with a long blade covered with rows of sharp points, used for making rough surfaces smooth
■ verb
1.
rasp (sth) (out) to say sth in a rough unpleasant voice
SYN croak :
[ v speech ]
'Where have you been?' she rasped.
[ vn ]
He rasped out some instructions.
[also v ]
2.
[ v ] to make a rough unpleasant sound
SYN grate :
a rasping cough / voice
3.
[ vn ] to rub a surface with a rasp or with sth rough that works or feels like a rasp :
The wind rasped his face.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (as a verb): from Old French rasper , perhaps of Germanic origin.