croak

[ krohk ]

/ kroʊk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR croak ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to utter a low-pitched, harsh cry, as the sound of a frog or a raven.

to speak with a low, rasping voice.

Slang. to die.

to talk despondingly; prophesy trouble or evil; grumble.

verb (used with object)

to utter or announce by croaking.

Slang. to kill.

noun

the act or sound of croaking.

Nearby words

Origin of croak

1550–60; earlier croke, probably imitative; compare Old English cræcetian (of a raven) to croak

Can be confusedcreak creek croak

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for croak

When Tony takes over Danny's body, his voice begins to croak and he shakes his pointer finger for emphasis.
Imaginary Friends in Movies|Marlow Stern|May 5, 2011|DAILY BEAST
And then I sit on a bench facing the grave and a raven says something in a croak a few steps from me.
Robert Bolaño's European Adventures|Roberto Bolano|April 28, 2011|DAILY BEAST
At times, from far up the moorland comes down even the strange cry of a buzzard, or the croak of a wandering raven.
In the West Country|Francis A. Knight
She was now suddenly a frog, "Croak;" and now she was an old woman.
A Christmas Greeting|Hans Christian Andersen

Nor did they mark the evening croak of the frogs alongshore among the reed beds, until Jo Lagassé imitated it to perfection.
Fort Amity|Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
They croak in mutual congratulation, anticipating a splendid repast.
The Death Shot|Mayne Reid
In the hour of the earthquake, no one heeds the croak of the raven.
The Hour and the Man|Harriet Martineau

British Dictionary definitions for croak

croak

/ (krəʊk) /

verb

(intr) (of frogs, crows, etc) to make a low, hoarse cry

to utter (something) in this mannerhe croaked out the news

(intr) to grumble or be pessimistic

slang

(intr) to die
(tr) to kill

noun

a low hoarse utterance or sound

Derived Formscroaky, adjectivecroakily, adverbcroakiness, noun

Word Origin for croak

Old English crācettan; related to Old Norse krāka a crow; see creak

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for croak (1 of 2)

croak

early 14c., crouken, imitative or related to Old English cracian (see crack (v.)). Slang meaning "to die" is first recorded 1812, from sound of death rattle. Related: Croaked; croaking.

Word Origin and History for croak (1 of 2)

croak

1560s, from croak (v.).

croak

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of croak

Examples from the Web for croak

British Dictionary definitions for croak

croak

verb

noun

Word Origin for croak

Word Origin and History for croak (1 of 2)

croak

Word Origin and History for croak (1 of 2)

croak