GRUMBLING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does grumbling mean? 

• GRUMBLING (noun)
  The noun GRUMBLING has 2 senses:

1. a loud low dull continuous noise

2. a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone

  Familiarity information: GRUMBLING used as a noun is rare.

• GRUMBLING (adjective)
  The adjective GRUMBLING has 1 sense:

1. continuous full and low-pitched throbbing sound

  Familiarity information: GRUMBLING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GRUMBLING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A loud low dull continuous noise

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

grumble; grumbling; rumble; rumbling

Context example:

they heard the rumbling of thunder

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

noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))

Derivation:

grumble (to utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds)

grumble (make a low noise)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

grumble; grumbling; murmur; murmuring; mutter; muttering

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

complaint (an expression of grievance or resentment)

Derivation:

grumble (make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath)

• GRUMBLING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Continuous full and low-pitched throbbing sound

Synonyms:

grumbling; rumbling

Context example:

the rumbling rolling sound of thunder

Similar:

full ((of sound) having marked deepness and body)

 Context examples 

The reason for this change was quickly learned by the hunters, and became the cause of a deal of grumbling on their part.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

It was his watch off, and he came out of his sleep, rubbing his eyes and grumbling.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

The dogs were tired, the drivers grumbling, and to make matters worse, it snowed every day.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

I have not been in town half-a-dozen hours, and those I have been dozing and grumbling away at the play.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It is their grutching and grumbling which makes them thin.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The woman who had hoped to find a good sale, gave him what he desired, but went away quite angry and grumbling.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

The six scoundrels were sitting grumbling under a sail in the forecastle; ashore we could see the gigs made fast and a man sitting in each, hard by where the river runs in.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Then at last Summerlee, with his sneer and his pipe, would move forwards, and Challenger would come rolling and grumbling after.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But Johnson, looking on, still continued his grumbling.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Mr. Dolloby, not without some grumbling, gave ninepence.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)