rasp
rasp — noun
- raspsingular
- raspsplural
1. a hand tool with a flat or curved surface covered in small sharp teeth, used in
a hand tool with a flat or curved surface covered in small sharp teeth, used in woodworking and metalworking to scrape away material and shape rough edges
Nia picked up the rasp and smoothed the rough edge of the wooden chair leg.
The carpenter's shelf held three rasps, each one worn down from years of daily use.
Mauricio ran the rasp along the metal bracket until the cut surface felt even.
Tuan pressed the coarse rasp against the door frame and pulled it back with steady strokes.
Ingrid could not finish the wooden box until she borrowed a rasp from the workshop.
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun/2 (ROUGH NOISE): this is the physical hand tool used by carpenters and metalworkers. A rasp is coarser than a file and leaves a rough surface.
常見錯誤
2. a dry, scraping noise — the kind of harsh sound made when two rough surfaces mov
a dry, scraping noise — the kind of harsh sound made when two rough surfaces move against each other, or when someone breathes with a blocked or sore throat
Nila's breath came in a dry rasp after she ran up the five flights of stairs.
A sudden rasp of metal on metal made Dahlia drop her tools and cover her ears.
Eli recognised the rusty rasp of the old gate being dragged across the gravel path.
The harsh rasp of the saw cutting through stone echoed around the empty hall.
Yumi woke to the faint rasp of branches scraping against her bedroom window.
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' plus the source of the sound: 'the rasp of his breath,' 'the rasp of metal on stone.' Distinguish from noun/1 (ROUGH FILE), which is the physical tool.
常見錯誤
rasp — verb
- rasppresent simple I / you / we / they
- rasps3rd person singular
- rasping-ing form
- raspedpast simple
1. to speak or breathe in a way that produces a harsh, scratchy sound, often becaus
to speak or breathe in a way that produces a harsh, scratchy sound, often because of a cold, tiredness, or strong emotion
Ingrid's voice rasped after three hours of shouting over the noisy factory floor.
'I need water,' Dahlia rasped, her throat raw and dry from the long desert walk.
pattern: used with direct speech; also 'rasp out' for speaking with difficulty
The old wooden door rasped against the stone floor every time Mauricio pushed it open.
Nila could hardly speak; each word rasped out like sand scraping over rough wood.
The radio rasped and crackled for a moment before the news bulletin finally came through.
- croak
Croak is deeper and more broken, often from a frog or a very sore throat; rasp is drier and scratchier.
- grate
Grate emphasises irritation and is more continuous; rasp focuses on the rough, dry quality of the sound.
- wheeze
Wheeze is specific to breathing difficulty with a whistling sound; rasp can describe voice as well as breath.
文法句型
voice/breath + rasp
rasp + out + words
用法筆記
Frequently describes a voice strained by illness, tiredness, or strong feeling. The subject is usually a person's voice, breath, or an inanimate object making a scraping sound. Only this sense takes 'out' with a direct object (e.g. 'rasp out a reply').
常見錯誤
2. to scrape a surface hard with something rough, wearing away the top layer
to scrape a surface hard with something rough, wearing away the top layer
The gardener rasped away at the rusted gate post until the bare metal finally showed through.
pattern: rasp away at [surface] for persistent, repeated scraping
The cat rasped its tongue across Ingrid's hand — rough, but strangely comforting.
Mauricio rasped the splintered wood until the surface felt smooth under his fingers.
Eli rasped the dried paint from the window frame with the edge of a metal scraper.
Dahlia rasped the burnt food off the bottom of the pan with a heavy scouring pad.
文法句型
rasp + noun phrase
rasp + noun phrase + off/away
用法筆記
Always takes a direct object — the surface or material being scraped. Less common than verb/1 (MAKE HARSH SOUND). Distinguish from verb/1: this sense describes a physical scraping action, not a sound.