groan

From Middle English gronen, from Old English grānian (“to groan; lament; murmur”), from Proto-Germanic *grainōną (“to howl; weep”), from Proto-Germanic *grīnaną (“to whine; howl; whimper”). Cognate with Dutch grijnen, grienen (“to cry; sob; blubber”), German Low German grienen (“to whimper; mewl”), German greinen (“to whine; whimper”), Swedish grina (“to howl; weep; laugh”).

The noun is from Middle English gron, grone, from the verb.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɡɹəʊn/
• (US) enPR: ʹgrōn, IPA^(key): /ɡɹoʊn/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -əʊn
• Homophone: grown

groan (plural groans)

1. A low, mournful sound uttered in pain or grief.
2. A low, guttural sound uttered in frustration, disapproval, or ecstasy.
3. (of an object) A low creaking sound from applied pressure or weight.

groan (third-person singular simple present groans, present participle groaning, simple past and past participle groaned)

1. To make a groan.

   We groaned at his awful jokes.

   The wooden table groaned under the weight of the banquet.

2. (obsolete) To strive after earnestly, as if with groans.
   • Herbert

     Nothing but holy, pure, and clear, / Or that which groaneth to be so.

• Angor, Garon, Goran, Grano, Ragon, Rogan, Ronga, angor, argon, nagor, orang, organ, rango