murmur

[mur-mer]

See more synonyms for murmur on Thesaurus.com

noun

a low, continuous sound, as of a brook, the wind, or trees, or of low, indistinct voices.
a mumbled or private expression of discontent.
Also called heart murmur. Medicine/Medical.
1. an abnormal sound heard on listening to the heart, usually through a stethoscope, produced by the blood passing through deformed cardiac valves.
2. in some persons a similar sound heard when blood passes through normal valves.

Phonetics. a voice quality in which vibration of the vocal cords is accompanied by the escape of a great deal of air, as in the (h) of ahead; breathy voice.

verb (used without object)

to make a low or indistinct sound, especially continuously.
to speak in a low tone or indistinctly.
to complain in a low tone or in private.

verb (used with object)

to sound by murmurs.
to utter in a low tone: He murmured a threat as he left the room.

Origin of murmur

1275–1325; (v.) Middle English murmuren < Latin murmurāre; (noun) Middle English < Latin

Related formsmur·mur·er, nounmur·mur·less, adjectivemur·mur·less·ly, adverbun·mur·mured, adjectiveun·mur·mur·ing, adjectiveun·mur·mur·ing·ly, adverb

Synonyms for murmur

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. grumble, susurration, mumble, complaint, mutter. 6. Murmur, mumble, mutter mean to make sounds that are not fully intelligible. To murmur is to utter sounds or words in a low, almost inaudible tone, as in expressing affection or dissatisfaction: to murmur disagreement. To mumble is to utter imperfect or inarticulate sounds with the mouth partly closed, so that the words can be distinguished only with difficulty: to mumble the answer to a question. To mutter is to utter words in a low, grumbling way, often voicing complaint or discontent, not meant to be fully audible: to mutter complaints. 7. grouse.

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

Related Words for murmur

rumble, buzz, hum, whisper, muttering, moan, growl, purr, babble, stammer, burble, mutter, utter, mumble, gurgle, undertone, grumble, susurration, drone, whispering

Examples from the Web for murmur

Contemporary Examples of murmur

Selling off the extras, I saw my neighbor marvel at the scent and murmur that he wished he could afford one.
A Million Ways to Die in Prison
Daniel Genis
December 8, 2014
They occurred without a murmur of protest from the United States.
The Gaza Conflict's Winners and Losers
David Frum
November 24, 2012
And if she did murmur something, why did Ingham choose not to record it?
Harold Evans Responds to Murdoch
Harold Evans
April 25, 2012
Many Eastwood critics, few of them academics, have done a great deal more than just murmur.
Why Clint Eastwood Is Ridiculously Overrated
Allen Barra
February 23, 2010
As the curtain rose opening night, the audience let out a murmur—a subtle appreciation for beauty in the raw.
How to Write a Winning Ivy League Essay
Kathleen Kingsbury
October 25, 2009

Historical Examples of murmur

As these occurred, a rustling and a murmur expressed the subdued applause.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327
Various
The voice became a murmur, and then Andy knew that it had been some man speaking in his sleep.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
And in the painful cleaning of the wound he did not murmur once.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
And they submitted to this without a murmur; but all sighed for salt!
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion
William Dobein James
A change now came in the service, from the murmur of half-spoken prayers.
The Dream
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for murmur

murmur

noun

a continuous low indistinct sound, as of distant voices
an indistinct utterancea murmur of satisfaction
a complaint; grumblehe made no murmur at my suggestion
med any abnormal soft blowing sound heard within the body, usually over the chestSee also heart murmur

verb -murs, -muring or -mured

to utter (something) in a murmur
(intr) to complain in a murmur

Derived Formsmurmurer, nounmurmuring, noun, adjectivemurmuringly, adverbmurmurous, adjective

Word Origin for murmur

C14: as n, from Latin murmur; vb via Old French murmurer from Latin murmurāre to rumble

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 murmur

late 14c., "expression of discontent by grumbling," from Old French murmure "murmur, sound of human voices; trouble, argument" (12c.), noun of action from murmurer "to murmur," from Latin murmurare "to murmur, mutter," from murmur (n.) "a hum, muttering, rushing," probably from a PIE reduplicative base *mor-mor, of imitative origin (cf. Sanskrit murmurah "crackling fire," Greek mormyrein "to roar, boil," Lithuanian murmlenti "to murmur"). Meaning "softly spoken words" is from 1670s.

late 14c., from Old French murmurer "murmur, grouse, grumble" (12c.), from murmur "rumbling noise" (see murmur (n.)). Related: Murmured; murmuring.

murmur in Medicine

murmur

[mûr′mər]

An abnormal sound heard on auscultation of the heart, lungs, or blood vessels.