growl C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /ɡraʊl/ UK /ɡraʊl/ See IPA manual 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... snarlgnarlrumblegrumblesnaproar Word family Forms growlingly Derived forms growlergrowling Etymology AI details 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 External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # growl **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** verb **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 markdown