Groaner

[grohn] /groʊn/

noun
1.
a low, mournful sound uttered in pain or grief:
the groans of dying soldiers.
2.
a deep, inarticulate sound uttered in derision, disapproval, desire, etc.
3.
a deep grating or creaking sound due to a sudden or continued overburdening, as with a great weight:
We heard the groan of the ropes as the crane lowered the heavy cargo into the ship’s hold.
verb (used without object)
4.
to utter a deep, mournful sound expressive of pain or grief.
5.
to make a deep, inarticulate sound expressive of derision, disapproval, desire, etc.
6.
to make a sound resembling a groan; resound harshly:
The steps of the old house groaned under my weight.
7.
to be overburdened or overloaded.
8.
to suffer greatly or lamentably:
groaning under an intolerable burden.
verb (used with object)
9.
to utter or express with groans.
/ˈɡrəʊnə/
noun
1.
a person or thing that groans
2.
(informal) an bad or corny joke or pun
/ɡrəʊn/
noun
1.
a prolonged stressed dull cry expressive of agony, pain, or disapproval
2.
a loud harsh creaking sound, as of a tree bending in the wind
3.
(informal) a grumble or complaint, esp a persistent one
verb
4.
to utter (low inarticulate sounds) expressive of pain, grief, disapproval, etc: they all groaned at Larry’s puns
5.
(intransitive) to make a sound like a groan
6.
(intransitive, usually foll by beneath or under) to be weighed down (by) or suffer greatly (under): the country groaned under the dictator’s rule
7.
(intransitive) (informal) to complain or grumble
n.

“one who complains,” early 15c., agent noun from groan (v).
v.

Old English granian “to groan, murmur, lament,” from Proto-Germanic *grain- (cf. Old Norse grenja “to howl”), of imitative origin, or related to grin. Meaning “complain” is from early 13c., especially in Middle English phrase grutchen and gronen. Related: Groaned; groaning.
n.

late 14c., from groan (v); earlier grane (early 14c.).

Related Terms

grunt-and-groaner