I. ˈgrau̇l, esp before pause or consonant -au̇əl verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably of imitative origin
intransitive verb
1.
a. : rumble
it sounds like your guts are growling — Joseph Mitchell
thunder faintly growling in the distance
artillery growled and belched on the horizon — Earle Birney
b. : to utter a deep guttural threatening sound
the dog growled at the stranger
c. : to make or move with a sound resembling or suggestive of the growl of an animal
a truck … growled out onto the road — H.D.Skidmore
listening to the water growling past — H.A.Calahan
2. : to express oneself in an angry or surly manner : complain angrily : grumble
hobnobbing together … and growling about the war — Zechariah Chafee
growled because the place … where they always parked, was taken — Greville Texidor
transitive verb
: to express with or by a growl : utter in a harsh, angry, or rasping tone or manner
growling out … lyrics in a hoarse contralto — J.S.Wilson b.1913
growling a deep and hollow roar — J.F.Dobie
growled out a stern warning
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a deep guttural inarticulate sound
backed away as he heard the dog's warning growl
broken now and then by … little bass growls of laughter
gave a growl of amusement
the full-throated growl of an enraged lion
b. : a growling or rumbling sound resembling or suggestive of the growl of an animal
the distant growl of cannon
the noisy, angry growl of an aircraft engine — J.N.Bell
2. : an utterance made in a harsh, rasping, or angry tone : a muttering complaint
again the growls began in the ranks — F.V.W.Mason
growl that businessmen have replaced the clergy on governing boards — Perry Miller
my letter of 31st December was a growl against you — Indian Information
3. : flutter-tonguing