kɹoʊk kɹəʊk ˈɡɹʌmbl̩ ˈmɜː.mə(ɹ) ˈmɝ.mɚ make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath she grumbles when she feels overworked twist into a state of deformity The wind has gnarled this old tree something twisted and tight and swollen their muscles stood out in knots the old man's fists were two great gnarls his stomach was in knots