grunt

[ gruhnt ]

/ grʌnt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR grunt ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to utter the deep, guttural sound characteristic of a hog.

to utter a similar sound.

to grumble, as in discontent.

verb (used with object)

to express with a grunt.

noun

a sound of grunting.

New England Cookery. a dessert, typically of cherries, peaches, or apples sweetened and spiced, and topped with biscuit dough.

any food fish of the family Pomadasyidae (Haemulidae), found chiefly in tropical and subtropical seas, that emits grunting sounds.

Slang. a soldier, especially an infantryman.

Slang. a common or unskilled worker; laborer.

RELATED WORDS

groan, squeak, squawk, cry

Nearby words

Origin of grunt

before 900; Middle English grunten, Old English grunnettan, frequentative of grunian to grunt; cognate with German grunzen, Latin grunnīre

Related formsgrunt·ing·ly, adverb

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

Examples from the Web for grunt

The grunt takes a hard look at our interpreter, rotates his M16 and opens the vehicle door, motioning for us to get out.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The grunt asks us where we are going and we respond, “to the Korengal.”
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As a grunt, he lectured a high-ranking officer in protest of Marines who attacked a Vietnamese child.
Crime Fighter’s Dilemma: My Country or My Family?|Moral Courage|April 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fortunately, the Food Sense App for the iPhone does the grunt work for you.
3 Ways to Track Your Food and Feel Healthy|Ari Meisel|January 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Piggy, saying nothing, with no time for even a grunt, traveled through the air sideways from the rock, turning over as he went.
Come On, ‘Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ Can Handle More Violence|Sujay Kumar|November 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Crocker's answer was a grunt; he was looking at the stars, calculating possibly in how long he could walk to heaven.
The Island Pharisees|John Galsworthy
He felt along the roof of the cavern, and presently gave a grunt of satisfaction.
The Birthright|Joseph Hocking
"I scarce know whether he did me service or disservice, your Highness," he added, with something between a grunt and a sigh.
The Mercenary|W. J. Eccott
If he had been Mr Pipchin, he'd have had some reason to grunt.
Dombey and Son|Charles Dickens
The landlord gave a grunt and dropped into the sheriff's arms like a sack of meal.
The Sheriff of Badger|George B. Pattullo

British Dictionary definitions for grunt

grunt

/ (ɡrʌnt) /

verb

(intr) (esp of pigs and some other animals) to emit a low short gruff noise

(when tr, may take a clause as object) to express something grufflyhe grunted his answer

noun

the characteristic low short gruff noise of pigs, etc, or a similar sound, as of disgust

any of various mainly tropical marine sciaenid fishes, such as Haemulon macrostomum (Spanish grunt), that utter a grunting sound when caught

US slang an infantry soldier or US Marine, esp in the Vietnam War

Derived Formsgruntingly, adverb

Word Origin for grunt

Old English grunnettan, probably of imitative origin; compare Old High German grunnizōn, grunni moaning, Latin grunnīre

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 grunt (1 of 2)

grunt

Old English grunnettan "to grunt," frequentative of grunian "to grunt," probably imitative (cf. Danish grynte, Old High German grunnizon, German grunzen "to grunt," Latin grunnire "to grunt"). Related: Grunted; grunting.

Word Origin and History for grunt (1 of 2)

grunt

1550s, from grunt (v.); as a type of fish, from 1713; meaning "infantry soldier" emerged in U.S. military slang during Vietnam War (first recorded in print 1969); used since 1900 of various low-level workers. Grunt work first recorded 1977.

grunt

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of grunt

Examples from the Web for grunt

British Dictionary definitions for grunt

grunt

verb

noun

Word Origin for grunt

Word Origin and History for grunt (1 of 2)

grunt

Word Origin and History for grunt (1 of 2)

grunt