rasp

[rasp, rahsp]

verb (used with object)

1. to scrape or abrade with a rough instrument.

2. to scrape or rub roughly.

   The glacier rasped the valley floor.

3. to grate upon or irritate.

   The sound rasped his nerves.

4. to utter with a grating sound.

   to rasp out an answer.

verb (used without object)

1. to scrape or grate.

2. to make a grating sound.

noun

1. an act of rasping.

2. a rasping sound.

3. a coarse file, used mainly on wood, having separate conical teeth.

4. (in an insect) a roughened surface used in stridulation.

rasp

¹

/ rɑːsp /

noun

1. a harsh grating noise

2. a coarse file with rows of raised teeth

verb

1. (tr) to scrape or rub (something) roughly, esp with a rasp; abrade

2. to utter with or make a harsh grating noise

3. to irritate (one's nerves or senses); grate (upon)

rasp

²

/ rɑːsp /

noun

1. an informal or Scot word for raspberry

Other Word Forms

• raspish adjective
• unrasped adjective
• rasper noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rasp¹

1200–50; Middle English raspen < Old French rasper to scrape, grate < Germanic; rape ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of rasp¹

C16: from Old French raspe , of Germanic origin; compare Old High German raspōn to scrape

Example Sentences

Survivors describe the sound of a tsunami as everything from a deafening rumble to a rasping hiss.

Read more on Literature

The 22-year-old took the second opportunity, with a rasping passing shot forcing a deciding set.

Read more on Barron's

New Zealand's batters were then hopping about the crease, as Archer showed his teeth with some rasping short balls.

Read more on BBC

No. But he’s the symbol of Springsteen here, and he captures the star’s flinty gaze and rock ‘n’ roll rasp while performing the songs, bringing his own intense soulfulness to the role.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Her voice remains a strong point - resonant and flexible, with a hint of the rasp she inherited from her father, Albanian rock singer Dukajin Lipa.

Read more on BBC