growl
part of speech
verb (growl, growls, growled, growling); noun (a growl, growls)
meaning for a pupil
1) Of an animal like a dog, bear or lion, to make a low, rough, deep sound in the throat as a warning or because it is angry. tree →
2) Of a person, to say something in a low, angry voice. tree →
3) Of a stomach or engine, to make a low rumbling noise: my tummy is growling. tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: To make a low angry sound, as a lion or a bear. People are also described as growling in grief. Interpretation: Isaiah's picture of the people growling like bears and moaning like doves shows a nation in pain, looking for justice and rescue that seem far away. In the primary lessons: In animal safety, a growling dog is giving a clear warning: stop, do not stare at it or run, back away slowly and leave it alone; never touch a dog that is growling, eating or sleeping. Growling is useful communication, not something to punish. In science, animals use sounds like growls, barks and purrs to communicate. In stories, writers use "growled" instead of "said" to show anger. Phrases: "growl at", "a low growl", "my stomach growled", "growled under his breath".
examples
- They shall roar together like young lions; they shall growl as lions' whelps. (Prophets JER.51.38, JPS 1917) tree →
- We all growl like bears, and mourn sore like doves; we look for right, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. (Prophets ISA.59.11, JPS 1917) tree →
- The dog growled when the boy reached for its bone. tree →
- If a dog growls, back away slowly. tree →
- The bear gave a deep growl. tree →
- "Get out!" the giant growled. tree →
- My stomach growled during the quiet test. tree →
- The car engine growled as it climbed the hill. tree →
- Never tease a dog that is growling. tree →
- The lion growled to warn the other lions away. tree →
- "Nonsense, nonsense!" growled the sleepy Giant. tree →
note
Regular verb: growled, growling. Spelling: ow as in "how" — g-r-o-w-l. Do not confuse "growl" with "grow" (get bigger). Similar animal sounds: snarl (with teeth showing), bark, roar, hiss.
In the corpora
- They shall roar together like young lions; they shall growl as lions' whelps.
- Snow leopards cannot roar like lions and tigers; they hiss, growl and make a puffing sound instead.
- A growl is a warning, not rudeness; a dog that is punished for growling may learn to bite without warning.
- Therefore I'm mad." Alice says "I call it purring, not growling."
- A dog that growls, shows its teeth or goes stiff is warning you to stay away.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «growl» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.