growl
n. countablen. a low, angry sound made in the throat. You usually hear this from an animal like a dog when it is upset or protecting something.
n. a low-pitched, guttural sound produced in the throat, typically expressing hostility or a warning. Often used to describe animal vocalizations or mechanical noises.
The dog gave a low growl when the stranger approached.
I heard a deep growl from the bushes and immediately realized a large animal was nearby.
The distant growl of the approaching storm echoed across the valley, signaling that the peaceful afternoon was about to end.
From Middle English groulen, grollen, gurlen (“of the bowels: to growl, rumble”), either possibly from Old French groler (variant of croler (“to be agitated, shake”)), grouler, grouller (“to growl, grumble”), from Frankish grullen, gruljan or from Old English gryllan, both from Proto-Germanic gruljaną (“to make a sound; to growl, grumble, rumble”), from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- (“to make a noise; to mumble, murmur; to rattle; to grind; to rub, stroke”), probably ultimately imitative. The word is cognate with Middle Dutch grollen (“to make a noise; to croak, grumble, murmur; to be angry”) (modern Dutch grollen (“to grumble”)), German grollen (“to rumble; to be angry, bear ill will”), Old English grillan, griellan (“to provoke, offend; to gnash the teeth”). Compare grill. The noun is derived from the verb.
Often paired with the adjectives 'low', 'deep', or 'menacing'.