grunt

[gruhnt]

verb (used without object)

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

2. to utter a similar sound.

3. to grumble, as in discontent.

verb (used with object)

1. to express with a grunt.

noun

1. a sound of grunting.

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

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

4. Slang.,  a soldier, especially an infantryman.

5. Slang.,  a common or unskilled worker; laborer.

grunt

/ ɡrʌnt /

verb

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

2. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to express something gruffly

   he grunted his answer

noun

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

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

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

Other Word Forms

• gruntingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of grunt¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of grunt¹

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

Example Sentences

Running over one of his own Russian bikers, he grunts in annoyance.

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Ama says, her voice getting lost over the crackling and grunting noises that the wall is making as it heals itself.

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The old woman grunted and used one long, gnarled finger to beckon Penelope inside.

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The old coachman grunted in annoyance and spoke at a snail’s pace.

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All the while Penelope heard the three of them murmuring to one another in funny little grunting sounds, which, she assumed, constituted their efforts to learn some French in time for the trip.

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Related Words

• groan