Grumble

//ˈɡɹʌmbl̩// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A high thundering, rumbling or growling sound. onomatopoeic
  2. 2
    a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone wordnet
  3. 3
    The sound made by a hungry stomach.
  4. 4
    a loud low dull continuous noise wordnet
  5. 5
    A surly complaint.

    "That whiner is never without a grumble to share."

Verb
  1. 1
    To make a low, growling or rumbling noise, like a hungry stomach or certain animals. intransitive

    "The distant thunder grumbles."

  2. 2
    make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath wordnet
  3. 3
    To complain; to murmur or mutter with discontent; to make ill-natured complaints in a low voice and a surly manner. intransitive

    "He grumbles about the food constantly, but has yet to learn to cook."

  4. 4
    show one's unhappiness or critical attitude wordnet
  5. 5
    To utter in a grumbling fashion. transitive

    "He grumbled that there was no grain "in the country" and that people were talking instead of working to provide it."

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    to utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds wordnet
  2. 7
    make a low noise wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

Probably from Middle French grommeler, from Old French grumeler (“to murmur, grumble”), from Middle Dutch *grommelen ("to murmur, mutter, grunt"; > Modern Dutch grommelen (“to grumble”)), frequentative of Middle Dutch grommen (“to growl, grunt”). Cognate with Middle Low German grummelen (> Low German grummeln (“to grumble”)), German grummeln (“to grumble”), Norwegian dialectal grymja (“to growl, grunt”).

Etymology 2

Probably from Middle French grommeler, from Old French grumeler (“to murmur, grumble”), from Middle Dutch *grommelen ("to murmur, mutter, grunt"; > Modern Dutch grommelen (“to grumble”)), frequentative of Middle Dutch grommen (“to growl, grunt”). Cognate with Middle Low German grummelen (> Low German grummeln (“to grumble”)), German grummeln (“to grumble”), Norwegian dialectal grymja (“to growl, grunt”).

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