moan

[ mohn ]
/ moʊn /

noun

verb (used without object)

to utter moans, as of pain or grief.
(of the wind, sea, trees, etc.) to make any sound suggestive of such moans: The wind moaned through the trees.

verb (used with object)

to utter (something) inarticulately or pitifully, as if in lamentation: He moaned his response.
to lament or bemoan: to moan one's fate.

Origin of moan

1175–1225; Middle English mone, man(e) (noun), Old English *mān, inferred from its derivative mǣnan to mourn

SYNONYMS FOR moan

1 See groan.
4 grieve.
4, 7 mourn.
7 deplore.

OTHER WORDS FROM moan

Words nearby moan

Example sentences from the Web for moaning

British Dictionary definitions for moaning

moan
/ (məʊn) /

noun

a low prolonged mournful sound expressive of suffering or pleading
any similar mournful sound, esp that made by the wind
a grumble or complaint

verb

to utter (words) in a low mournful manner
(intr) to make a sound like a moan
(usually intr) to grumble or complain (esp in the phrase moan and groan)

Derived forms of moan

moaner, noun moanful, adjective moaning, noun, adjective moaningly, adverb

Word Origin for moan

C13: related to Old English mǣnan to grieve over