- (intransitive)
to grumble; complain
a persistent complaint
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
grouse1 /graʊs/USA pronunciation
n. [countable], pl. grouse, grous•es.
grouse2 /graʊs/USA pronunciation v., groused, grous•ing, n. [Informal.]
v.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Birdsa plump bird of the pheasant family, with a short bill and feathered legs.
grouse2 /graʊs/USA pronunciation v., groused, grous•ing, n. [Informal.]
v.
- Informal Termsto grumble* complain: [no object]He was always grousing about his job.[~ + that clause]He was always grousing that he hated his job.
n. [countable]
- Informal Termsa complaint.
grouse1
(grous),USA pronunciation n., pl. grouse, grous•es.
grouse′less, adj.
grouse′like′, adj.
grouse2 (grous),USA pronunciation v., groused, grous•ing, n. [Informal.]
v.i.
n.
grous′er, n.
grouse3 (grous),USA pronunciation adj. [Australian Slang.]
- Birdsany of numerous gallinaceous birds of the subfamily Tetraoninae. Cf. black grouse, capercaillie, ruffed grouse, spruce grouse.
- Birds[Brit.]the red grouse.
- origin, originally uncertain 1525–35
grouse′like′, adj.
grouse2 (grous),USA pronunciation v., groused, grous•ing, n. [Informal.]
v.i.
- Informal Termsto grumble;
complain:I've never met anyone who grouses so much about his work.
n.
- Informal Termsa complaint.
- 1850–55; origin, originally uncertain; compare grouch
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged gripe, fret, fuss.
grouse3 (grous),USA pronunciation adj. [Australian Slang.]
- British Termsexcellent;
great;
wonderful.
- origin, originally uncertain 1940–45
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
any gallinaceous bird of the family Tetraonidae, occurring mainly in the N hemisphere, having a stocky body and feathered legs and feet. They are popular game birds
See also black grouse, red grouse
excellent