Creak vs Groan - What's the difference?

As nouns the difference between creak and groan

is that creak is the sound produced by anything that creaks; a creaking while groan is a low, mournful sound uttered in pain or grief.

As verbs the difference between creak and groan

is that creak is to make a prolonged sharp grating or squeaking sound, as by the friction of hard substances while groan is to make a groan.

creak

English

Noun

(en noun)

The sound produced by anything that creaks; a creaking.

Verb

(en verb)

To make a prolonged sharp grating]] or [[squeak, squeaking sound, as by the friction of hard substances.

* 1856 , Eleanor Marx-Aveling (translator), (Gustave Flaubert) (author), (Madame Bovary), Part III, Chapter 10:

Then when the four ropes were arranged the coffin was placed upon them. He watched it descend; it seemed descending for ever. At last a thud was heard; the ropes creaked as they were drawn up.

* 1901 , , (w, The Monkey's Paw):

He heard the creaking of the bolt as it came slowly back, and at the same moment he found the monkey's paw, and frantically breathed his third and last wish.

To produce a creaking sound with.

* Shakespeare

Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry.

* 20th century , Theodore Roethke, On the Road to Woodlawn

I miss the polished brass, the powerful black horses,

The drivers creaking the seats of the baroque hearses

Derived terms

* creaky

Anagrams

* English onomatopoeias

groan

English

Noun

(en noun)

A low, mournful sound uttered in pain or grief.

A low, guttural sound uttered in frustration or disapproval.

Verb

(en verb)

To make a groan.

We groaned at his awful jokes.

The wooden table groaned under the weight of the banquet.

(obsolete) To strive after earnestly, as if with groans.

* Herbert

Nothing but holy, pure, and clear, / Or that which groaneth to be so.

Anagrams

* * *