groan

I UK [ɡrəʊn] / US [ɡroʊn] verb
Word forms "groan":
present tense I/you/we/they groan he/she/it groans present participle groaning past tense groaned past participle groaned
*

1)

a) [intransitive] to make a long low sound, for example because you are in pain or unhappy

b) if wood, metal, or another material groans, it makes a long low sound as it moves

The floorboards groaned under the weight of the dancers.

2) [intransitive/transitive] to speak about something in a way that shows you are unhappy

"Oh no," he groaned when he saw who it was.

The other people in the queue were moaning and groaning.

3)

a) [intransitive] if one thing groans under another, it can only just support or bear it

groan under/beneath:

The system was groaning under an avalanche of applications.

b) British if a table groans with food, there is a lot of food on it

groan with/under:

The long tables were groaning under the weight of fresh fish.

II UK [ɡrəʊn] / US [ɡroʊn] noun [countable]
Word forms "groan":
singular groan plural groans

1)

a) a long low sound that a person makes, especially when they are in pain or unhappy

b) a long low sound made by something as it moves

2) a complaint

They've got the usual moans and groans like everybody else.