Advertisement - Continue reading below

Definition of "croup" [croup]

  • A pathological condition of the larynx, especially in infants and children, that is characterized by respiratory difficulty and a hoarse, brassy cough. (noun)
  • The rump of a beast of burden, especially a horse. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "croup" in a sentence
  • "_true_ or _membranous_ croup, in which a false, semi-organized membrane is formed, and _spasmodic croup_."
  • "All I can think about when I hear the word croup is that scene from Anne of Green Gables, when she saves Diana's sister."
  • "The doctor said that "croup" is actually a catch-all for any illness that comes with a barky cough, and that his version seems quite mild, though he has lost his voice .... which for my little chatty Nancy is pretty traumatic."