GROWL

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does growl mean? 

• GROWL (noun)
  The noun GROWL has 1 sense:

1. the sound of growling (as made by animals)

  Familiarity information: GROWL used as a noun is very rare.

• GROWL (verb)
  The verb GROWL has 1 sense:

1. to utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds

  Familiarity information: GROWL used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GROWL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The sound of growling (as made by animals)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

growl; growling

Hypernyms ("growl" is a kind of...):

cry (the characteristic utterance of an animal)

Derivation:

growl (to utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds)

• GROWL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they growl    ... he / she / it growls   
Past simple: growled   
Past participle: growled   
-ing form: growling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

To utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

growl; grumble; rumble

Context example:

Stones grumbled down the cliff

Hypernyms (to "growl" is one way to...):

emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sentence examples:

You can hear animals growl in the meadows
The meadows growl with animals

Derivation:

growl (the sound of growling (as made by animals))

growler (a speaker whose voice sounds like a growl)

growling (a gruff or angry utterance (suggestive of the growling of an animal))

growling (the sound of growling (as made by animals))

 Context examples 

He took Buck by the scruff of the neck, and though the dog growled threateningly, dragged him to one side and replaced Sol-leks.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

“Watch and see, young fool's-head,” growled the old bowman.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“It is a shame,” I heard Johnson growling in painfully slow and correct English.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“Stop!” he growled to me; and wiped his hot face with his hand.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Beyond a growl or a grunt, the dog took its punishment silently.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The man gave a shout of surprise, and then a growl of rage.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Both gangs surged forward, growling and snarling.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He smelled around the stuffed man as if he suspected there might be a nest of rats in the straw, and he often growled in an unfriendly way at the Scarecrow.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

By ten o’clock, when the shops were closed, the by-street was very solitary and, in spite of the low growl of London from all round, very silent.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

“I don't feel sharp,” growled Morgan.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)