growler
/'graulə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A small iceberg or ice floe just large enough to be hazardous for shipping: A growler is a piece of ice that has broken off from a glacier or iceberg. It is relatively small and often mostly submerged, making it a dangerous obstacle for ships because it is difficult to see.
- A speaker whose voice sounds like a growl: A growler is a person who speaks in a low, rough, angry, or threatening tone, resembling the sound made by an animal like a dog or bear.
Examples
Noun (Iceberg):
- The ship's captain carefully navigated through the fjord, watching for hidden growlers in the water.
- A growler, though smaller than a massive iceberg, can still cause significant damage to a vessel's hull.
Noun (Person):
- The old sailor was known as a growler because of his deep, raspy voice.
- Don't be such a growler; try to speak more kindly to the children.
Advanced Usage
"To spot a growler": To identify a small, hazardous iceberg.
- The lookout's primary job was to spot growlers before the ship got too close.
"The growler in the corner": Referring to a person who is muttering or complaining in a low, gruff voice.
- Pay no attention to the growler in the corner; he's always unhappy about something.
Variants and Related Words
- Growl (verb): To make a deep, harsh sound, like that of an angry dog.
- The dog began to growl at the stranger.
- Growling (adjective/noun): Describing a sound or action that resembles a growl.
- He answered with a growling tone.
Synonyms
- For the iceberg: Ice floe, bergy bit.
- For the person: Grumbler, grouch, curmudgeon (though these emphasize complaining more than voice quality).
Related Phrases
- "Like a growler": Used to describe something that is deceptively dangerous due to its size or a voice that is unusually rough.
- That criticism came out like a growler—quiet but with a sharp edge.
Noun
- a small iceberg or ice floe just large enough to be hazardous for shipping
- a speaker whose voice sounds like a growl