murmur

[ mur-mer ]

/ ˈmɜr mər /

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.

an abnormal sound heard on listening to the heart, usually through a stethoscope, produced by the blood passing through deformed cardiac valves.
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.

Nearby words

murjite, murk, murky, murman coast, murmansk, murmur, murmuration, murmuring, murmurous, murmurously, murom

Origin of murmur

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

SYNONYMS FOR murmur

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.

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Related forms

mur·mur·er, nounmur·mur·less, adjectivemur·mur·less·ly, adverbun·mur·mured, adjective

un·mur·mur·ing, adjectiveun·mur·mur·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
They occurred without a murmur of protest from the United States.
The Gaza Conflict's Winners and Losers|David Frum|November 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And if she did murmur something, why did Ingham choose not to record it?
Harold Evans Responds to Murdoch|Harold Evans|April 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
Only from far away came the murmur of the sluggish waters of the Maros, and from its shores the call of a heron to its mate.
A Bride of the Plains|Baroness Emmuska Orczy
Not a word of information was wrung from them, no murmur of complaint crossed their lips.
The Petticoat Commando|Johanna Brandt
Then, when expectation had reached its utmost point, there was a murmur.
Personal Reminiscences in Book Making|R.M. Ballantyne
There wasna a murmur amongst them, nor amongst all his servants.
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland|Various
The voices in Susy's sickroom ceased to murmur; presently Mrs. Collins stole softly upstairs.
The Children of Wilton Chase|Mrs. L. T. Meade

British Dictionary definitions for murmur

murmur

/ (ˈmɜːmə) /

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 (1 of 2)

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.

Word Origin and History for murmur (1 of 2)

murmur

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

murmur

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of murmur

Examples from the Web for murmur

British Dictionary definitions for murmur

murmur

noun

verb -murs, -muring or -mured

Word Origin for murmur

Word Origin and History for murmur (1 of 2)

murmur

Word Origin and History for murmur (1 of 2)

murmur

Medicine definitions for murmur

murmur

n.