rasp

1 of 3

verb

ˈrasp 

rasped; rasping; rasps

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

rasper noun

raspingly

ˈra-spiŋ-lē 

adverb

rasp

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: a coarse file with cutting points instead of lines

2

: something used for rasping

3

a

: an act of rasping

b

: a rasping sound, sensation, or effect

rasper

3 of 3

noun (2)

rasp·​er

ˈra-spər

plural -s

: one that rasps: such as

a

: an instrument or machine for rasping (as a file for removing the black surface from a burnt loaf of bread, a grater for beetroot or potatoes, a sawmill for reducing dyewoods to powder)

b

: one that smooths something (as of metal or wood) with a rasp

c

: a rasping fence

Synonyms of rasp

Verb

• rub
• file
• sand
• grind
• polish
• sharpen

Noun (1)

• scratch
• scrape
• creak

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 (1)

the rusted lock opened with a rasp

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The voice was faint and rasping, like the sound of pebbles raked by a wave. —Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026

When the beetle takes flight, the woman, who is busy unpacking, doesn’t realize for a moment that there’s something out of place about that rasping ruckus, that foreign hum. —María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026

Noun

Like Dijon, svn4vr uses a dexterous, soulful rasp to fight for emotional truth from within songs that occupy shifting senses of space and bear the seams of digital assembly. —H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026

Deep and smoky with impressive control and just a touch of Etta James rasp, Spiro’s is a voice not so much influenced by jazz legends like Winehouse or Nina Simone but rather a direct descendant. —Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French *rasper, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German raspōn to scrape together

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

circa 1512, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rasp

• asp
• clasp
• gasp
• grasp

Kids Definition

rasp

1 of 2 verb

ˈrasp 

1

: to rub with or as if with a rough file

rasp off a rough edge

2

: irritate sense 1

3

: to speak or say in an irritated tone

4

: to make a harsh grating sound

rasp

2 of 2 noun

1

: a coarse file with cutting points instead of lines

2

: a rasping sound or sensation