Library / English Dictionary

GNARL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something twisted and tight and swollen

Example:

his stomach was in knots

Synonyms:

gnarl; knot

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Hypernyms ("gnarl" is a kind of...):

distorted shape; distortion (a shape resulting from distortion)

Derivation:

gnarl (twist into a state of deformity)

gnarly (used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath

Example:

she grumbles when she feels overworked

Synonyms:

croak; gnarl; grumble; murmur; mutter

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "gnarl" is one way to...):

complain; kick; kvetch; plain; quetch; sound off (express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 2

Meaning:

Twist into a state of deformity

Example:

The wind has gnarled this old tree

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "gnarl" is one way to...):

bend; deform; flex; turn; twist (cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

gnarl (something twisted and tight and swollen)

Credits

 Context examples: 

He clasped his hands behind his head, threw them aloft, and swung them backwards, and at every movement some fresh expanse of his smooth, white skin became knobbed and gnarled with muscles, whilst a yell of admiration and delight from the crowd greeted each fresh exhibition.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Through this wild country it was that Sir Nigel and his Company pushed their way, riding at times through vast defiles where the brown, gnarled cliffs shot up on either side of them, and the sky was but a long winding blue slit between the clustering lines of box which fringed the lips of the precipices; or, again leading their horses along the narrow and rocky paths worn by the muleteers upon the edges of the chasm, where under their very elbows they could see the white streak which marked the gave which foamed a thousand feet below them.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)