Groaning

[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.
/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.

Old English granung, verbal noun from groan (v.). From 16c.-19c., and in dialect, also “a woman’s lying in.”
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.).