hoarse Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion
    gruff; husky.
    • gruff voices
    • the dog's gruff barking
    • hoarse cries
    • makes all the instruments sound powerful but husky"- Virgil Thomson

WordNet

Hoarse adjective
Etymology
OE. hors, also hos, has, AS. has; akin to D. heesch, G. heiser, Icel. hass, Dan. hæs, Sw. hes. Cf. Prov. E. heazy.
Wordforms
comparative Hoarser superlative Hoarsest
Definitions
  1. Having a harsh, rough, grating voice or sound, as when affected with a cold; making a rough, harsh cry or sound; as, the hoarse raven.
    The hoarse resounding shore. Dryden.
  2. Harsh; grating; discordant; -- said of any sound.

Webster 1913