Definition: moan

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

moan
     n : an utterance expressing pain or disapproval [syn: groan]
     v : indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure; "The students
         groaned when the professor got out the exam booklets";
         "The ancient door soughed when opened" [syn: groan, sough]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Moan \Moan\, v. t.
   1. To bewail audibly; to lament.

            Ye floods, ye woods, ye echoes, moan My dear
            Columbo, dead and gone.               --Prior.

   2. To afflict; to distress. [Obs.]

            Which infinitely moans me.            --Beau. & Fl.
Moan \Moan\, n. [OE. mone. See Moan, v. i.]
   1. A low prolonged sound, articulate or not, indicative of
      pain or of grief; a low groan.

            Sullen moans, hollow groans.          --Pope.

   2. A low mournful or murmuring sound; -- of things.

            Rippling waters made a pleasant moan. --Byron.
Moan \Moan\ (m[=o]n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Moaned (m[=o]nd); p.
   pr. & vb. n. Moaning.] [AS. m[=ae]nan to moan, also, to
   mean; but in the latter sense perh. a different word. Cf.
   Mean to intend.]
   1. To make a low prolonged sound of grief or pain, whether
      articulate or not; to groan softly and continuously.

            Unpitied and unheard, where misery moans. --Thomson.

            Let there bechance him pitiful mischances, To make
            him moan.                             --Shak.

   2. To emit a sound like moan; -- said of things inanimate;
      as, the wind moans.