moan

moan¹ [məun US moun] v

1.) [I and T] informal

to complain in an annoying way, especially in an unhappy voice and without good reason

▪ 'I feel seasick already,' she moaned.

moan about

▪ A lot of people moaned about the parking problems.

moan at BrE

▪ My mum never stops moaning at me.

moan that

▪ He's always moaning that we use too much electricity.

▪ He moaned and groaned all the way there.

2.)

to make a long low sound expressing pain, unhappiness, or sexual pleasure

= ↑groan

▪ She moaned and cried out in pain.

3.) [I] [i]literary

if the wind moans, it makes a long low sound

▪ They could hear the wind moaning in the trees.

>moaner n BrE

▪ Dad's a gloomy old moaner.

moan ²

moan² n

[Date: 1100-1200; Origin: From an unrecorded Old English man]

1.) a long low sound expressing pain, unhappiness, or sexual pleasure

moan of

▪ There was a moan of pain from the injured man.

▪ She gave a little moan of pleasure.

▪ a low moan

2.) have a moan (about sth)

BrE informal to complain about something

▪ We were just having a moan about work.

3.) literary a low sound made by the wind