rasp

verb

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\ ˈrasp

rasped; rasping; rasps

Definition of rasp

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to rub with something rough specifically : to abrade with a rasp

2 : to grate upon : irritate

3 : to utter in a raspy tone

intransitive verb

1 : scrape

2 : to produce a grating sound

rasp

noun

Definition of rasp (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a coarse file with cutting points instead of lines

2 : something used for rasping

3a : an act of rasping

b : a rasping sound, sensation, or effect

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Synonyms for rasp

Synonyms: Verb

Synonyms: Noun

Examples of rasp in a Sentence

Verb “Let go of my arm,” she rasped. The metal boxes rasped as they were dragged across the floor. Noun the rusted lock opened with a rasp

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb City did take their foot off the pedal a little, but Fernandinho still tested Pickford with a rasping drive in the 57th minute, which took a deflection off Calvert-Lewin. — SI.com, "Everton 1-3 Man City: Visitors Sweep Toffees Aside As Premier League Title Edges Closer," 31 Mar. 2018 The plummeting temperatures give rise to high-altitude clouds suffused with the CFCs still swirling in Earth’s atmosphere, which then rasp away at the nearby ozone. — Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, "Why This Rare, Huge Ozone Hole Over the Arctic Is Troubling Scientists," 1 Apr. 2020 With rasping percussion early on — four washboards! — dissonances rise through the winds. — Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, "Conductor Fabio Luisi gets new suavity, subtlety and plenty of drama from the Dallas Symphony," 10 Jan. 2020 While studying the ghost crabs, researchers noticed that when they were involved in agonistic interactions, the crustaceans made the aggressive rasping noises even with their claws outstretched. — Amy Woodyatt And Allen Kim, CNN, "Ghost crabs 'growl' from their stomachs, scientists find," 12 Sep. 2019 Sometimes a bleaty quality crept in, sometimes a dry high note was rasped or snarled, sometimes an ornament emerged with the bite of a buzz saw. — Anne Midgette, Washington Post, "Christian Gerhaher’s Mahler recital stabs listeners in the heart," 20 Oct. 2019 Ghost crabs owe their rasping stomach growls to a mechanism known as the gastric mill. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, "Ghost Crabs Use Teeth in Their Stomachs to Ward Off Predators," 12 Sep. 2019 The beach-dwelling crustacean can create loud rasping sounds, not only with its claws, but also with its guts, new research reveals. — David Shultz, Science | AAAS, "Listen to a ghost crab frighten away enemies—with its stomach rumbles," 10 Sep. 2019 Handanovic was called upon again moments later to keep out Emanuele Giaccherini's rasping effort from the right hand side of the box, as Chievo sought the opening goal that perhaps their positive play had warranted. — SI.com, "Chievo 1-2 Inter: Handanovic Stars As Nerazzurri Deny Spirited Chievo Much Needed Point," 22 Apr. 2018 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Lohan, in her new identity as an investor, and with her unmistakable rasp, was talking about N.F.T.s. — Anna Wiener, The New Yorker, "Clubhouse Feels Like a Party," 31 Mar. 2021 Christine has a cool rasp that sets her apart from other singers. — Maggie Fremont, EW.com, "The Voice season premiere recap: A blast from Blake Shelton's past takes the stage," 2 Mar. 2021 Biden took his place and removed his mask and began to speak in a voice that was just above a whisper and with a bit of a rasp. — Washington Post, "Harris’s self-evident truth," 22 Mar. 2021 He's got a nice rasp and almost sounds like Ray LaMontagne-does-rock-music. — Maggie Fremont, EW.com, "The Voice recap: Blake Shelton keeps his promise, costing a 'rich and nuanced' contestant a four-chair turn," 10 Mar. 2021 Rather than lip-sync the numbers, Day sings them in a voice that has some of Holiday’s signature breathy rasp and delicate lilt, and suggests her ability to move from whimsy to anguish and back in the space of a phrase. — New York Times, "‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’ Review: Singing for Her Life," 25 Feb. 2021 He's got a great rasp to his voice and immediately hits you with the emotion of the song without even trying. — Maggie Fremont, EW.com, "American Idol recap: Have we already met some front-runners?," 22 Feb. 2021 Throughout the day, Garland spoke in low tones, with a slight rasp to his voice. — Washington Post, "Merrick Garland finally speaks. His words were worth the wait.," 22 Feb. 2021 Wallen's voice is as much rock as country, arriving with a grunge rasp. — Jon Pareles New York Times, Star Tribune, "New music review: Morgan Wallen escapes to a rural Neverland fantasy," 21 Jan. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rasp.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.