I. ˈgrōn verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English gronen, from Old English grānian; akin to Old High German grīnan to distort the mouth, mutter, grumble, growl, Old Norse grīna to bare the teeth, sneer
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to make a deep usually inarticulate and involuntary often strangled sound typically abruptly begun and ended and usually indicative of pain or grief or tension or desire or sometimes disapproval or annoyance
the dying man groaned with every jolt of the ambulance
men groaning under the weight of the loads they were carrying
groaned with rage and frustration
b. : to make a harsh sound (as of heavy creaking, grating, rasping) upon subjection to sudden or prolonged strain (as of a heavy load)
let himself fall into an armchair which groaned under him — H.M.Ledig-Rowohlt
wagons that swayed and groaned up the hill
2.
a. : to experience pain or grief enough to make one groan
groaned when he read the telegram
b. : to undergo strain or oppression or overburdening enough to make one groan
men who were once free now groan in slavery
tables which groaned under the weight of good things — Norman Douglas
c. : to desire something intensely enough to make one groan
groaning to be with her again
death groaning for fresh victims
d. : to disapprove of something or become annoyed with something enough to make one groan
groaning over their stupidity
one groans at the absence of an index — Sean O'Faolain
transitive verb
1. : to utter or express with groaning : breathe out with groaning
will groan out some prayer — William Barrett
groaning their despair
2. : to express disapproval of or annoyance with by groaning
groaning them through the streets — Broadus Mitchell
the consuls were groaned down — J.A.Froude
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English gron, grone, from gronen, v.
1. : a deep usually inarticulate and involuntary often strangled sound typically abruptly begun and ended and usually indicative of pain or grief or tension or desire or sometimes disapproval or annoyance
2. : a harsh sound (as of heavy creaking, grating, rasping) produced by subjection to a sudden or prolonged strain (as of a heavy load)