murmur
[mur-mer]
- 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.
Show More
- 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.
Show More
- to sound by murmurs.
- to utter in a low tone: He murmured a threat as he left the room.
Show More
Origin of murmur
1275–1325; (v.) Middle English murmuren < Latin murmurāre; (noun) Middle English < Latin
Synonyms
See more synonyms for murmur on Thesaurus.com1. 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
Examples from the Web for murmur
Contemporary Examples
Selling off the extras, I saw my neighbor marvel at the scent and murmur that he wished he could afford one.
They occurred without a murmur of protest from the United States.
And if she did murmur something, why did Ingham choose not to record it?
Many Eastwood critics, few of them academics, have done a great deal more than just murmur.
As the curtain rose opening night, the audience let out a murmur—a subtle appreciation for beauty in the raw.
Historical Examples
As these occurred, a rustling and a murmur expressed the subdued applause.
The voice became a murmur, and then Andy knew that it had been some man speaking in his sleep.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
And in the painful cleaning of the wound he did not murmur once.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
And they submitted to this without a murmur; but all sighed for salt!
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis MarionWilliam Dobein James
A change now came in the service, from the murmur of half-spoken prayers.
The DreamEmile Zola
murmur
- 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
Show More
- to utter (something) in a murmur
- (intr) to complain in a murmur
Show More
Word Origin
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
n.
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.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
murmur
(mûr′mər)- An abnormal sound heard on auscultation of the heart, lungs, or blood vessels.
Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.