croon
[kroon]
- to sing or hum in a soft, soothing voice: to croon to a baby.
- to sing in an evenly modulated, slightly exaggerated manner: Popular singers began crooning in the 1930s.
- to utter a low murmuring sound.
- Scot. and North England.
- to bellow; low.
- to lament; mourn.
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- to sing (a song) in a crooning manner.
- to lull by singing or humming to in a soft, soothing voice: to croon a child to sleep.
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- the act or sound of crooning.
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Origin of croon
1350–1400; Middle English cronen < Middle Dutch: to lament
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for crooner
Contemporary Examples
At just 18, the crooner has millions of people—mostly young girls—clamoring to know more about his life story.
And things seemed fine between the couple, with the crooner appearing sober and healthier-looking, with a new crew cut.
Creed Singer Scott Stapp’s Fall From Grace: From 40 Million Albums Sold to Living in a Holiday InnMarlow Stern
November 27, 2014
Now Nick Jonas, freshly 22 years old and leaving his days as a mommy-approved Jonas Brothers crooner behind, is following suit.
From fighting Nazis to marching alongside Martin Luther King Jr. to singing with Lady Gaga, the crooner has done it all.
Tony Bennett’s Nazi Hunting Past Is Just One Reason He’s the Greatest Living AmericanAsawin Suebsaeng
September 25, 2014
A moody ballad by an Australian crooner has notched 134 million views on YouTube.
Historical Examples
Briefly the crooner's voice wavered, the notes of the violins hesitated, but no one noticed.
The Star LordBoyd Ellanby
A name given to the crooner, crowner, or gray gurnard (Trigla gurnardus).
The Sailor's Word-BookWilliam Henry Smyth
croon
- to sing or speak in a soft low tone
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- a soft low singing or humming
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Word Origin
C14: via Middle Dutch crōnen to groan; compare Old High German chrōnan to chatter, Latin gingrīre to cackle (of geese)
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 crooner
n.
type of popular singer, 1930, agent noun from croon.
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croon
v.
c.1400, originally Scottish, from Middle Dutch kronen "to lament, mourn," perhaps imitative. Originally "to bellow like a bull" as well as "to utter a low, murmuring sound" (mid-15c.). Popularized by Robert Burns. Sense evolved to "lament," then to "sing softly and sadly." Related: Crooned; crooning.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper