growl

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɡraʊl/ UK /ɡraʊl/ See IPA manual

verb noun

Meanings

1

verb
to make a low threatening sound; to speak gruffly

The dog began to growl as the stranger approached the door.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to make a low threatening... snarl gnarl rumble grumble snap roar

Word family

Forms growlingly

Derived forms growlergrowling

Etymology

From Middle English growlen ('to rumble, grumble'), of imitative origin, perhaps reinforced by Old French grouler ('to rumble').

growlen Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

# growl

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** ɡraʊl
**IPA (UK):** ɡraʊl

## Meanings
1. to make a low threatening sound; to speak gruffly

## Examples
- The dog began to growl as the stranger approached the door.

## Synonyms
- snarl
- gnarl
- rumble
- grumble
- snap
- roar

## Derived Forms
- growler
- growling

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: growlen

## Etymology
From Middle English growlen ('to rumble, grumble'), of imitative origin, perhaps reinforced by Old French grouler ('to rumble').

## AI Etymology
Growl comes from Middle English growlen ('to rumble, grumble'), of imitative origin, perhaps reinforced by Old French grouler ('to rumble'). The etymological trail includes Middle English growlen. As a verb, growl means to make a low threatening sound; to speak gruffly. The same family is visible in derived forms such as growler and growling. The wording should be read with that uncertainty intact: the proposed connection is plausible rather than absolute.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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growl

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