RASP

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does rasp mean? 

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

1. uttering in an irritated tone

2. a coarse file with sharp pointed projections

  Familiarity information: RASP used as a noun is rare.

• RASP (verb)
  The verb RASP has 2 senses:

1. scrape with a rasp

2. utter in a grating voice

  Familiarity information: RASP used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RASP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Uttering in an irritated tone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

rasp; rasping

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

utterance; vocalization (the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication)

Derivation:

rasp (utter in a grating voice)

raspy (unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A coarse file with sharp pointed projections

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

rasp; wood file

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

file (a steel hand tool with small sharp teeth on some or all of its surfaces; used for smoothing wood or metal)

Derivation:

rasp (scrape with a rasp)

• RASP (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they rasp    ... he / she / it rasps   
Past simple: rasped   
Past participle: rasped   
-ing form: rasping   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Scrape with a rasp

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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

abrade; abrase; corrade; rub down; rub off (wear away)

"Rasp" entails doing...:

rub (move over something with pressure)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

rasp (a coarse file with sharp pointed projections)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Utter in a grating voice

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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

mouth; speak; talk; utter; verbalise; verbalize (express in speech)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue rasp

Derivation:

rasp; rasping (uttering in an irritated tone)

 Context examples 

“What’s the meaning of this?” I heard him say at last in a dry, rasping tone.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Presently he threw down his rasp and went across to her, standing by the wheel and shaking his head as he talked to her.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Then it seemed as though I were being dragged over rasping sands, white and hot in the sun.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He could make a louder rasping growl than any of them.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Martin nodded, but felt a rasp of irritation.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Behind him, with his toe ever rasping upon the other's heels, there walked a very stern, black-bearded man with a hard eye and a set mouth.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

His words were quiet, but he had a rasping way of saying them which was very menacing.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Amid the droning of the wind there had come the stamping of a horse’s hoofs, and the long grind of a wheel as it rasped against the curb.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The smith stood with the rasp in his hand, looking after her until she was just a little red spot on the white road.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I heard the rasping, laboured breathing of the sick man.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)