Rasping

Rasping refers to a harsh, grating sound or action that has a rough, abrasive quality. The term can describe sounds, voices, coughs, or physical processes such as using a rasp. As an adjective, rasping describes something with a coarse, scratchy timbre or texture.

In medical contexts, rasping can describe a type of abnormal breath or cough. A rasping, dry, harsh breath sound may be heard on chest examination and can reflect irritation of the airways or larynx, swelling, or obstruction. A rasping cough may accompany respiratory infections or exposure to irritants. Because rasping breath can indicate serious conditions, new, persistent, or distressing rasping should be evaluated by a clinician.

In woodworking and metalworking, to rasp is to scrape or file a surface with a rasp, a tool with a coarse, raised surface. Rasping removes material in rough strokes and produces a distinctive rasping sound. The action reshapes wood or metal and is often followed by finer finishing passes.

In everyday language, rasping is commonly used to describe a voice that is rough, hoarse, or gravelly, such as a rasping voice caused by vocal fatigue, illness, or environmental factors. The term can also describe sounds like a scraping or sanding noise produced during material removal.