rasp UK /ɹɑːsp/US /ɹæsp/verb 5noun 4forms 3 verb5 •To use a rasp. •To make a noise similar to the one a rasp makes in use; to utter rasps. •To say in a raspy voice.“No. I am going to feed you to the children,” rasped Burt, his laugh rattling around his throat, prising Dad’s fingers one by one off his apron. — 2012 •(figurative) To grate harshly upon; to offend by coarse or rough treatment or language.Some sounds rasp the ear.His insults rasped my temper. •To work something with a rasp.to rasp wood to make it smoothto rasp bones to powder noun4 •A coarse file or filelike tool, on which the cutting prominences are distinct points raised by the oblique stroke of a sharp punch, instead of lines raised by a chisel, as on the true file. •The sound made by this tool when used, or any similar sound. •A group of guinea fowlA rasp of guinea fowl honked as 'Emma' the ostrich pecked. — 2025 •(no longer used) The raspberry.Set sorrel amongst rasps, and the rasps will be smaller. — 1627 formsrasped · rasping · rasps