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.

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.

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 murmur 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. 2019

Examples from the Web for murmuring

Contemporary Examples of murmuring

There was no applause, no murmuring, no debate; the crowd was simply, utterly, absolutely speechless.
When TB Was a Death Sentence: An Excerpt From ‘The Remedy’
Thomas Goetz
April 16, 2014
Constance tipped her sunshade to shield her eyes, and she and Louis began a murmuring conversation which was impossible to catch.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show
Robert W. Chambers
February 20, 2014
She enjoys the first of her new supply while murmuring "how dreadful" while reading at breakfast of the sinking of the Lusitania.
David's Bookclub: Time Regained
David Frum
April 8, 2013
Baker, murmuring a word of support for the vilified Brooks, noted that she had been on vacation when the offense occurred.
Dow Chief Quits in Phone-Hack Scandal
Nick Summers
July 15, 2011

Historical Examples of murmuring

Was it the murmuring of the dark stream as it washed upon the untrodden shore?
Life in London
Edwin Hodder
"John Barsad," repeated madame, after murmuring it once to herself.
A Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dickens
Steenie went on for a while murmuring to himself at intervals.
Heather and Snow
George MacDonald
Something very faint and distant, not unlike the murmuring in a sea-shell.
Barnaby Rudge
Charles Dickens
He was tossing feverishly from side to side, murmuring and muttering.
The First Violin
Jessie Fothergill

British Dictionary definitions for murmuring

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 murmuring

late 14c., verbal noun from murmur (v.).

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.

murmur

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

Medicine definitions for murmuring

murmur

[mûr′mər]

n.

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

murmur

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

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Origin of murmur

Synonyms for murmur

Examples from the Web for murmuring

Contemporary Examples of murmuring

Historical Examples of murmuring

murmur

noun

verb -murs, -muring or -mured

Word Origin for murmur

murmur

murmur

murmur

n.