definitions

gnarl

1
[ nahrl ]
/ nɑrl /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR gnarl ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a knotty protuberance on a tree; knot.

verb (used with object)

to twist into a knotted or distorted form.

RELATED WORDS

moan, grunt, howl, rumble, growl, cry, snarl, yap, bark, mutter, roar, writhe, deform, skew, cripple, impair, contort, maim, mutilate, mangle

Nearby words

gmta, gmw, gn, gnamma hole, gnar, gnarl, gnarled, gnarly, gnash, gnash one's teeth, gnashers

Origin of gnarl

1
First recorded in 1805–15; back formation from gnarled

Definition for gnarling (2 of 2)

gnarl

2
[ nahrl ]
/ nɑrl /

verb (used without object)

to growl; snarl.

Origin of gnarl

2
First recorded in 1585–95; variant of gnar
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for gnarling

British Dictionary definitions for gnarling (1 of 2)

gnarl

1
/ (nɑːl) /

noun

any knotty protuberance or swelling on a tree

verb

(tr) to knot or cause to knot

Word Origin for gnarl

C19: back formation from gnarled, probably variant of knurled; see knurl

British Dictionary definitions for gnarling (2 of 2)

gnarl

2

gnar (nɑː)

/ (nɑːl) /

verb

(intr) obsolete to growl or snarl

Word Origin for gnarl

C16: of imitative origin
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