Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Origin: Probably from Old French grommeler, from Middle Dutch grommen

grumble

 verb
     
grum‧ble
1 [intransitive and transitive] to keep complaining in an unhappy way [= moan]
grumble about/at
Farmers are always grumbling about the weather.
grumble that
A few passengers grumbled that their cabins were too small.
'This is boring,' Kathleen grumbled.
2 [intransitive] to make a low continuous sound [= rumble]:
Thunder grumbled overhead.
3

mustn't/can't grumble

British English spoken used to say that you are fairly healthy and happy:
'How are you today?' 'Mustn't grumble.'
—grumble noun [countable]
the usual grumbles about pay
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary