rasp

American  

[rasp, rahsp] / ræsp, rɑsp /

verb (used with object)

1. to scrape or abrade with a rough instrument.

2. to scrape or rub roughly.

   The glacier rasped the valley floor.

3. to grate upon or irritate.

   The sound rasped his nerves.

4. to utter with a grating sound.

   to rasp out an answer.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to scrape or grate.

2. to make a grating sound.

noun

1. an act of rasping.

2. a rasping sound.

3. a coarse file, used mainly on wood, having separate conical teeth.

4. (in an insect) a roughened surface used in stridulation.

rasp ¹ British  

/ rɑːsp /

noun

1. a harsh grating noise

2. a coarse file with rows of raised teeth

---

verb

1. (tr) to scrape or rub (something) roughly, esp with a rasp; abrade

2. to utter with or make a harsh grating noise

3. to irritate (one's nerves or senses); grate (upon)

rasp ² British  

/ rɑːsp /

noun

1. an informal or Scot word for raspberry

---

Other Word Forms

• rasper noun
• raspish adjective
• unrasped adjective

Etymology

Origin of rasp

1200–50; Middle English raspen < Old French rasper to scrape, grate < Germanic; rape ³

Example Sentences

But the home side equalised on the stroke of half-time courtesy of a rasping long-range drive from Vitinha following a short corner routine.

From Barron's

“I heard a rasping sound. Even inside the car, you could hear it. We were wondering what it was when, looking through the front windshield, all you could see were houses—houses everywhere.”

From Literature

The 22-year-old took the second opportunity, with a rasping passing shot forcing a deciding set.

From Barron's

New Zealand's batters were then hopping about the crease, as Archer showed his teeth with some rasping short balls.

From BBC

No. But he’s the symbol of Springsteen here, and he captures the star’s flinty gaze and rock ‘n’ roll rasp while performing the songs, bringing his own intense soulfulness to the role.

From Los Angeles Times