noun
croak
krohk
noun
1
A low, rough sound made in the throat, especially the call of a frog.
"A deep croak came from the pond at dusk."
"His voice was reduced to a croak after the long cold."
verb
1
To make a low, rough sound, or to say something in a hoarse voice.
"The frogs croaked all night by the lake."
""Water," he croaked, barely able to speak."
2
Informal: to die.
"The old TV finally croaked after fifteen years."
How to Use Croak
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rough, throaty sound, or the verb for making one — think of a frog, or a sore throat.
Common mistake
"Croak" meaning "to die" is slang and should be avoided in formal or sensitive writing.
Common pairings
croak like a frog
a hoarse croak
croak out a word
Word Forms
croaked past tense, croaks plural, Croaks plural, croaks singular
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Etymology
An imitative (onomatopoeic) word from Old English crācettan, meaning "to croak" — it was formed to mimic the sound itself, much like "crack."