Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

rasping

 - 4 dictionary results

rasp⋅ing

  [ras-ping, rah-sping]
Use rasping in a Sentence
–adjective
1. harsh; grating: a rasping voice.
–noun
2. a minute piece removed by rasping: raspings of sawed wood.
3. raspings, dry bread crumbs.
Origin:
1650–60; rasp + -ing 2 , -ing 1

Related forms:
rasp⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
rasp⋅ing⋅ness, noun

rasp

  [rasp, rahsp]
–verb (used with object)
1. to scrape or abrade with a rough instrument.
2. to scrape or rub roughly: The glacier rasped the valley floor.
3. to grate upon or irritate: The sound rasped his nerves.
4. to utter with a grating sound: to rasp out an answer.
–verb (used without object)
5. to scrape or grate.
6. to make a grating sound.
–noun
7. an act of rasping.
8. a rasping sound.
9. a coarse file, used mainly on wood, having separate conical teeth.
10. (in an insect) a roughened surface used in stridulation.
Origin:
1200–50; ME raspen < OF rasper to scrape, grate < Gmc; see rape 3

Related forms:
raspish, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To rasping
rasp   (rāsp)   
v.   rasped, rasp·ing, rasps

v.   tr.

  1. To file or scrape with a coarse file having sharp projections.

  2. To utter in a grating voice.

  3. To grate on (nerves or feelings).

v.   intr.

  1. To scrape harshly; grate.

  2. To make a harsh grating sound.

n.  

  1. A coarse file with sharp, raised, pointed projections.

  2. The act of filing with a rasp.

  3. A harsh grating sound.


[Middle English raspen, from Middle Dutch raspen and Old French rasper, of Germanic origin.]
rasp'er n., rasp'ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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 1541, from M.Fr. raspe, from O.Fr. rasper "to rasp."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see rasping on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way