croaking


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croak

 (krōk)
n.
A low hoarse sound, as that characteristic of a frog or a raven.
v. croaked, croak·ing, croaks
v.tr.
1. To utter in a low hoarse sound.
2. Slang To kill.
v.intr.
1.
a. To utter a low hoarse sound.
b. To speak with a low hoarse voice.
2. To mutter discontentedly; grumble.
3. Slang To die.

[From Middle English croken, to croak, probably of imitative origin.]

croak′i·ly adv.
croak′y adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.croaking - a harsh hoarse utterance (as of a frog)croaking - a harsh hoarse utterance (as of a frog)
utterance, vocalization - the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

croaking

adjective
Low and grating in sound:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
We soon managed this part of the business, though the Frogs kept up a most discontented croaking all the time.
What?'" And so indeed they were: it had only sounded like croaking, till Sylvie explained it, but I could now make out the "Wawt?
(So now, when you hear the Frogs croaking in a particularly melancholy way, you may be sure they're trying to guess Bruno's next Shakespeare
The croaking all ceased in a moment, and I turned to the stage, in some curiosity to see what Bruno's ideas were as to the behaviour of Shakespeare's greatest Character.
Thorn!" arose from the Frogs (I had quite learned to understand their croaking by this time).
The magnificent moorland silence was suddenly profaned by a man's voice, speaking (or rather croaking) behind me.
There happened to be no customer in the shop but Jacques Three, of the restless fingers and the croaking voice.
"Croaking?" repeated John Want, with the air of a man who considered himself the object of a gratuitous insult.
I heard a sound like the flutter of a bird's wings, and a hoarse croaking, but that was all.
His croaking voice filled the empty gap of silence exactly at the right time.
But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door; Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -- What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking "Nevermore."
But the Raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door; Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore-- What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking "Nevermore."