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definitions

clamor

1
[klam-er]
noun
  1. a loud uproar, as from a crowd of people: the clamor of the crowd at the gates.
  2. a vehement expression of desire or dissatisfaction: the clamor of the proponents of the law.
  3. popular outcry: The senators could not ignore the clamor against higher taxation.
  4. any loud and continued noise: the clamor of traffic; the clamor of birds and animals in the zoo.
verb (used without object)
  1. to make a clamor; raise an outcry.
verb (used with object)
  1. to drive, force, influence, etc., by clamoring: The newspapers clamored him out of office.
  2. to utter noisily: They clamored their demands at the meeting.
Also especially British, clam·our.

Origin of clamor

1
1350–1400; Middle English clamor (< Anglo-French) < Latin, equivalent to clām- (see claim) + -or -or1; Middle English clamour < Middle French < Latin clāmōr- (stem of clāmor)
Related formsclam·or·er, clam·or·ist, noun

Synonyms for clamor

1. shouting. 2. vociferation. 4. See noise.

Usage note

See -our.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for clamour

Contemporary Examples of clamour

Historical Examples of clamour

  • Of course there was a clamour that I should sing again, but I couldn't.

  • I was in the middle of the pit, and from the pit the clamour arose.

  • There is a clamour for evidence, signs, messages, testimony.

    Mountain Meditations

    L. Lind-af-Hageby

  • An impression, I am told, sometimes gets abroad that we yield to clamour.

    The Burning Spear

    John Galsworthy

  • There had been a moment's pause in the clamour of their babel as the door opened and Israel entered.

    The Scapegoat

    Hall Caine

British Dictionary definitions for clamour

clamour

US clamor

noun
  1. a loud persistent outcry, as from a large number of people
  2. a vehement expression of collective feeling or outragea clamour against higher prices
  3. a loud and persistent noisethe clamour of traffic
verb
  1. (intr; often foll by for or against) to make a loud noise or outcry; make a public demandthey clamoured for attention
  2. (tr) to move, influence, or force by outcrythe people clamoured him out of office
Derived Formsclamourer or US clamorer, nounclamorous, adjectiveclamorously, adverbclamorousness, noun

Word Origin for clamour

C14: from Old French clamour, from Latin clāmor, from clāmāre to cry out
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for clamour

chiefly British English spelling of clamor (q.v.); for spelling, see -or. Related: Clamoured; clamouring; clamourous.

clamor

n.

late 14c., from Old French clamor "call, cry, appeal, outcry" (12c., Modern French clameur), from Latin clamor "a shout, a loud call" (either friendly or hostile), from clamare "to cry out" (see claim (v.)).

clamor

v.

late 14c., from clamor (n.). Related: Clamored; clamoring.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper