Groan

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Groan, v. i. [OE. gronen, granen, granien, AS. grnian, fr. the root of grennian to grin. √35. See 2d Grin, and cf. Grunt.].

•  To give forth a low, moaning sound in breathing; to utter a groan, as in pain, in sorrow, or in derision; to moan.  [1913 Webster]

  "For we . . . do groan, being burdened."  [1913 Webster]

  "He heard the groaning of the oak."  [1913 Webster]
•  To strive after earnestly, as with groans.  [1913 Webster]

  "Nothing but holy, pure, and clear,
  Or that which groaneth to be so."  [1913 Webster]

Groan, v. t. 

 To affect by groans.  [1913 Webster]

Groan, n. 

 A low, moaning sound; usually, a deep, mournful sound uttered in pain or great distress; sometimes, an expression of strong disapprobation; as, the remark was received with groans.  [1913 Webster]
"Such groans of roaring wind and rain."  [1913 Webster]
"The wretched animal heaved forth such groans."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Groan, v. & n.
--v.
1 a intr. make a deep sound expressing pain, grief, or disapproval. b tr. utter with groans.
2 intr. complain inarticulately.
3 intr. (usu. foll. by under, beneath, with) be loaded or oppressed.
--n. the sound made in groaning.

Idiom

groan inwardly be distressed.

Derivative

groaner n. groaningly adv.

Etymology

OE granian f. Gmc, rel. to GRIN

THESAURUS

Groan

air a grievance, bawl, beef, beefing, belch, bellyache, bellyaching, bitch, bitching, blare, blat, bray, burr, buzz, cackle, caw, chirr, clamor, clang, clangor, clank, clash, complain, complaining, complaint, crab, craunch, croak, crump, crunch, cry, cry out, destructive criticism, dissent, dolorous tirade, faultfinding, fret, fret and fume, fuss, grievance, grind, gripe, griping, groaning, grouch, grouse, grousing, growl, grumble, grumbling, grunt, holler, howl, jangle, jar, jeremiad, keen, kick, kicking, lament, lodge a complaint, make an outcry, moan, murmur, murmuring, mutter, muttering, object, outcry, peeve, peevishness, pet peeve, petulance, pipe, plaint, planctus, protest, querulousness, raise a howl, rasp, register a complaint, roar, scolding, scranch, scrape, scratch, scream, screech, scrunch, shriek, sigh, sing, snarl, sniping, snore, sob, sough, squall, squawk, squawking, take on, tirade, twang, ululate, ululation, wail, wail of woe, whimper, whine, whining, whisper, whistle, yammer, yammering, yap, yapping, yawl, yawp, yell, yelp, yowl

ROGET THESAURUS

Groan

Lamentation

N lament, lamentation, wail, complaint, plaint, murmur, mutter, grumble, groan, moan, whine, whimper, sob, sigh, suspiration, heaving, deep sigh, cry, scream, howl, outcry, wail of woe, ululation, frown, scowl, tear, weeping, flood of tears, fit of crying, lacrimation, lachrymation, melting mood, weeping and gnashing of teeth, plaintiveness, languishment, condolence, mourning, weeds, willow, cypress, crape, deep mourning, sackcloth and ashes, lachrymatory, knell, deep death song, dirge, coronach, nenia, requiem, elegy, epicedium, threne, monody, threnody, jeremiad, jeremiade, ullalulla, mourner, grumbler, Noobe, Heraclitus, lamenting, in mourning, in sackcloth and ashes, sorrowing, sorrowful, mournful, tearful, lachrymose, plaintive, plaintful, querulous, querimonious, in the melting mood, threnetic, in tears, with tears in one's eyes, with moistened eyes, with watery eyes, bathed in tears, dissolved in tears, like Niobe all tears, elegiac, epicedial, de profundis, les larmes aux yeux, Int, heigh-ho!, alas!, alack!, O dear!, ah me!, woe is me!, lackadaisy!, well a day!, lack a day!, alack a day!, wellaway!, alas the day!, O tempora O mores!, what a pity!, miserabile dictu!, O lud lud!, too true!, tears standing in the eyes, tears starting from the eyes, eyes suffused, eyes swimming, eyes brimming, eyes overflowing with tears, if you have tears prepare to shed them now, interdum lacrymae pondera vocis habent, strangled his language in his tears, tears such as angels weep.

VB lament, mourn, deplore, grieve, weep over, bewail, bemoan, condole with, fret, wear mourning, go into mourning, put on mourning, wear the willow, wear sackcloth and ashes, infandum renovare dolorem, give sorrow words, sigh, give a sigh, heave, fetch a sigh, waft a sigh from Indus to the pole, sigh 'like a furnace', wail, cry, weep, sob, greet, blubber, pipe, snivel, bibber, whimper, pule, pipe one's eye, drop tears, shed tears, drop a tear, shed a tear, melt into tears, burst into tears, fondre en larmes, cry oneself blind, cry one's eyes out, yammer, scream, mew, groan, moan, whine, roar, roar like a bull, bellow like a bull, cry out lustily, rend the air, frown, scowl, make a wry face, gnash one's teeth, wring one's hands, tear one's hair, beat one's breast, roll on the ground, burst with grief, complain, murmur, mutter, grumble, growl, clamor, make a fuss about, croak, grunt, maunder, deprecate, cry out before one is hurt, complain without cause.

Cry

VB cry, roar, shout, bawl, brawl, halloo, halloa, hoop, whoop, yell, bellow, howl, scream, screech, screak, shriek, shrill, squeak, squeal, squall, whine, pule, pipe, yaup, cheer, hoot, grumble, moan, groan, snore, snort, grunt, vociferate, raise up the voice, lift up the voice, call out, sing out, cry out, exclaim, rend the air, thunder at the top of one's voice, shout at the top of one's voice, shout at the pitch of one's breath, thunder at the pitch of one's breath, s'_egosiller, strain the throat, strain the voice, strain the lungs, give a cry.