moan
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++moan1 /məʊn $ moʊn/ ●●○ verb 1 [intransitive, transitive] informalCOMPLAIN to complain in an annoying way, especially in an unhappy voice and without good reason 抱怨，发牢骚 ‘I feel seasick already, ’ she moaned. “我已经开始晕船了。”她抱怨道。moan about A lot of people moaned about the parking problems. 很多人抱怨停车难的问题。moan atBritish English British English My mum never stops moaning at me. 我妈总是没完没了地对我发牢骚。moan that He’s always moaning that we use too much electricity. 他总是抱怨说我们用电太多。 He moaned and groaned all the way there. 他去的一路上抱怨个没完。► see thesaurus at complain2 [intransitive]CRY to make a long low sound expressing pain, unhappiness, or sexual pleasure 呻吟，呜咽，哼哼 SYN groan She moaned and cried out in pain. 她痛得又是呻吟又是喊叫。3 [intransitive] literaryCDN if the wind moans, it makes a long low sound 〔风〕发出长而低的声音，发呜咽声 They could hear the wind moaning in the trees. 他们听到树林里风声呜咽。 —moaner noun [countable] British English Dad’s a gloomy old moaner. 爸爸是个性格忧郁、爱发牢骚的老头。→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
moan• Why do people always moan about the weather?• He was moaning and groaning from the enormous weight of it.• She moaned and ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her.• Sorry to moan, but we trusted you to write the truth.• I lay in bed, moaning in pain.• "But, Mom, there's nothing to do here, " moaned Josh.• He begins to moan quietly, but it is not a distressing noise.• I'm fed up with hearing you moaning the whole time!• Waziri moaned through the gag, spittle and blood running from the side of his mouth.• One night I moaned to Jasper about the shaved ice and about how sick to death I was of paper cups.moan that• My husband, who's 41, hates the fact that I smoke and moans that I eat too much.• Another moaned that Johnny was a little slow putting his hand in pocket.• People do not want to be led by some one moaning that the press is unfair.moan2 noun [countable] 1 CRYa long low sound expressing pain, unhappiness, or sexual pleasure 呻吟声，呜咽声moan of There was a moan of pain from the injured man. 那个受伤的男子痛苦地呻吟了一声。 She gave a little moan of pleasure. 她轻轻地发出一声快乐的呻吟。 a low moan 低沉的呻吟声2 have a moan (about something) British English informalCOMPLAIN to complain about something 抱怨（某事） We were just having a moan about work. 我们只是在抱怨工作。3. literaryCDN a low sound made by the wind 〔风的〕呜咽声，萧萧声Examples from the Corpus
moan• The announcement drew moans from the 150 people at Wednesday's meeting.• This time, though, her moan was more of a squeal.• Her moans of pleasure somehow don't ring true.• He again apologises, this time for his long moan, and asks advice.• A high-pitched moan of machinery and the sound of rushing air filled the structure, loud enough to make conversation difficult.• The water was just right, slid over his skin as he gave out a long low satisfied moan into the steam.low moan• He gave a low moan of despair.• She was about to turn around, when she heard a low moan.• Their whispering and low moans echoed around the empty flat, like ghosts that danced on the ceiling with their shadows.Origin moan2 (1100-1200) From an unrecorded Old English manmoan1 verbmoan2 nounChinese
in complain to especially in Corpus way, an an annoying
moan
moan1 /məʊn $ moʊn/ 
verb
1. [intransitive and transitive] informal to complain in an annoying way, especially in an unhappy voice and without good reason:
‘I feel seasick already,’ she moaned.
moan about
A lot of people moaned about the parking problems.
moan at British English:
My mum never stops moaning at me.
moan that
He’s always moaning that we use too much electricity.
He moaned and groaned all the way there.
2. [intransitive] to make a long low sound expressing pain, unhappiness, or sexual pleasure
SYN groan:
She moaned and cried out in pain.
3. [intransitive] literary if the wind moans, it makes a long low sound:
They could hear the wind moaning in the trees.
—moaner noun [countable] British English:
Dad’s a gloomy old moaner.
▪ complain to say that you are annoyed, unhappy, or not satisfied about something or someone: Several customers complained about the service they received. | ‘I wish you’d stop telling me what to do,’ she complained.
▪make a complaint to formally complain about something to someone in authority: His parents made a complaint to the head teacher.
▪protest to complain about something that you think is wrong, especially publicly: Demonstrators were protesting against the war.
▪object to say that you oppose or disapprove of something: Local residents have objected to the plan. | Some teachers objected to the scheme.
▪grumble to keep complaining in a bad-tempered way about something: Rail travellers have been grumbling about the increase in ticket prices. | What’s he grumbling about now?
▪moan/whine informal (also whinge /wɪndʒ/ British English informal) to keep complaining in an annoying way: Everyone was moaning about the hotel food. | Stop whingeing and get on with your work!
▪kick up/make a fuss to complain or become angry about something, especially something that is not very important: The soup wasn’t hot enough, but he didn’t want to make a fuss. | He kicked up such a fuss that they were offered another room.
moan2 noun [countable]
moan of
There was a moan of pain from the injured man.
She gave a little moan of pleasure.
a low moan
2. have a moan (about something) British English informal to complain about something:
We were just having a moan about work.
3. literary a low sound made by the wind
| I |
verb1. [intransitive and transitive] informal to complain in an annoying way, especially in an unhappy voice and without good reason:
moan about
moan at British English:
moan that
2. [intransitive] to make a long low sound expressing pain, unhappiness, or sexual pleasure
SYN groan:
3. [intransitive] literary if the wind moans, it makes a long low sound:
—moaner noun [countable] British English:
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noun [countable] Date: 1100-1200
Origin: From an unrecorded Old English man
1. a long low sound expressing pain, unhappiness, or sexual pleasureOrigin: From an unrecorded Old English man
moan of
2. have a moan (about something) British English informal to complain about something:
3. literary a low sound made by the wind
complain to say that you are annoyed, unhappy or not satisfied about sb/sth 指抱怨、埋怨、投诉、发牢骚 ：◆ I'm going to complain to the manager about this. 我要就这件事向经理投诉。 protest to say or do sth to show that you disagree with or disapprove of sth, especially publicly; to give sth as a reason for protesting 指公开反对、抗议或申辩 ：◆ Students took to the streets to protest against the decision.学生走上街头抗议这项决定。 object to say that you disagree with or disapprove of sth; to give sth as a reason for objecting 指不同意、不赞成、反对或抗辩 ：◆ If nobody objects, we'll postpone the meeting till next week. 如果没有人反对，我们就把会议推迟到下周。 ◆ He objected that the police had arrested him without sufficient evidence. 他抗辩说警察没有充分证据就逮捕了他。 grumble ( to complain about sb/sth in a bad-tempered wayrather
指咕哝、嘟囔、发牢骚 ：◆ They kept grumbling that they were cold. 他们不停地嘟囔着说冷。 moan ( to complain about sb/sth in an annoying wayBrE rather
指抱怨、埋怨 ：◆ What are you moaning on about now? 你在抱怨什么呢？ whine ( to complain in an annoying, crying voicerather
指哭哭啼啼或哭嚷着诉说 ：◆ Stop whining! 别哭哭啼啼的！ ◆ 'I want to go home,' whined Toby. “我要回家。” 托比哼哼唧唧地说。 NOTE Whine is often used to talk about the way that young children complain.* whine 通常用于小孩子抱怨。
Patterns
to complain/protest/grumble/moan/whine about sthto complain/protest/grumble/moan at sthto complain/protest/object/grumble/moan/whine to sbto complain/protest/object/grumble/moan/whine that…