rasping

[ ras-ping, rah-sping ]

adjective

1. harsh; grating:

   a rasping voice.

noun

1. a tiny piece of material removed by rasping or scraping:

   raspings of sawed wood.

2. Cooking. raspings, dry breadcrumbs.

ˈrasping

/ ˈrɑːspɪ; ˈrɑːspɪŋ /

adjective

1. (esp of a noise) harsh or grating; rough

Other Words From

• rasping·ly adverb
• rasping·ness noun
• un·rasping adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rasping¹

First recorded in 1650–60; rasp + -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The hospital had exhausted its portable tanks, and the new lines were rushing oxygen from exam rooms to the row of rasping patients on the wall.

From ProPublica

She could barely hear over the rhythmic rasping of a knife being sharpened in long, aggressive sweeps.

From The Daily Beast

It was but child's play for so strong a man as Mr. Steele to shake off so futile a grasp, and he did so with a rasping laugh.

From Project Gutenberg

You had perceived upon what measure of aggression, upon what rasping unkindnesses, the applause of your fellows was bestowed.

From Project Gutenberg

A low call came from a brooding curlew, a faint sigh from a plover, and the wild rasping cry of a lapwing greeted them overhead.

From Project Gutenberg

The twisted bar of iron stands out from the door and the ring is drawn up and down over a series of nicks, making a rasping noise.

From Project Gutenberg

Broken crystal littered the floor in shards and puddles of strange chemicals mingled smells to become a throat-rasping fog.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• gravelly
• gruff
• guttural
• hoarse
• raspy