grunting

grunt-ing · verb/noun/adjective

imported

Definitions

verb/noun/adjective

  1. 1.

    Making a low, short guttural sound, as pigs do or as a person might when exerting effort or expressing displeasure.

  2. 2.

    The action or sound of making grunts.

  3. 3.

    Characterized by or producing grunt sounds.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    grunting and groaning — making sounds of effort or complaint
  • •
    stop grunting — an instruction to communicate more clearly

Related words

Antonyms: articulating, speaking
See also: groan, grunt, grunts, snort
Synonyms: groaning, grunts, muttering, snorting

Etymology

From Old English grunnettan ("to grunt"), a frequentative form related to grunian. The word imitates the sound made by pigs and is of imitative origin.