rasp

rasp¹ (rɑːsp)

—n
1.	a harsh grating noise
2.	a coarse file with rows of raised teeth

—vb
3.	(tr) to scrape or rub (something) roughly, esp with a rasp; abrade
4.	to utter with or make a harsh grating noise
5.	to irritate (one's nerves or senses); grate (upon)

[C16: from Old French raspe, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German raspōn to scrape]

'rasper¹

—n

'raspish¹

—*adj*

rasp² (rɑːsp)

—n
	an informal or Scot word for raspberry

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

rasp

c.1300, "to scrape," from M.Du. raspen, O.Fr. rasper "to grate, rasp," from a W.Gmc. source (cf. O.E. gehrespan) akin to the root of raffle (q.v.). Vocalic sense is from 1843. The noun meaning "coarse file" is from 1540s, from M.Fr. raspe, from O.Fr. rasper "to rasp."

FOLDOC

Computing Dictionary

RASP definition

language
["RASP - A Language with Operations on Fuzzy Sets", D.D. Djakovic, Comp Langs 13(3):143-148 (1988)].
(1995-05-10)

Example sentences

Through the screens of the two half-open windows she can hear a rasp of

crickets and a dim rush of traffic on the distant thruway.

His voice ravaged by dehydration, he proposed in a halting rasp that they

attempt to row their way out of the calm.

Rhythmic imagination lies under a soft, woody tone with a bit of a rasp to it.

She's still got some rasp, but her voice is in much better shape now.

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Related Words

grate raspberry

rasper rasping

Matching Quote

"Even a moment's reflection will show that the spoken American language is backed by expressive features lacking in the written language: the rise or fall of the voice at the ends of phrases and sentences; the application of vocal loudness to this or that word or part of a word; the use of gesture; the meaningful rasp or liquidity, shouting or muting, drawling or clipping, whining or breaking, melody or whispering imparted to the quality of the voice. Written English, lacking clear indication of such features, must be so managed that it compensates for what it lacks. It must be more carefully organized than speech in order to overcome its communicative deficiencies as compared with speech. In speech. we safeguard meaning by the use of intonation, stress, gesture, and voice qualities. In writing, we must deal with our medium in such a way that the meaning cannot possibly be misunderstood."

-Harold Whitehall