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View synonyms for murmur

murmur

[ mur-mer ]

noun

  1. a low, continuous sound, as of a brook, the wind, or trees, or of low, indistinct voices.

    Synonyms: mutter, complaint, mumble, susurration, grumble

  2. a mumbled or private expression of discontent.
  3. 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.
  4. 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)

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

    Synonyms: grouse

verb (used with object)

  1. to sound by murmurs.
  2. to utter in a low tone:

    He murmured a threat as he left the room.

murmur

/ ˈmɜːmə /

noun

  1. a continuous low indistinct sound, as of distant voices
  2. an indistinct utterance

    a murmur of satisfaction

  3. a complaint; grumble

    he made no murmur at my suggestion

  4. med any abnormal soft blowing sound heard within the body, usually over the chest See also heart murmur


verb

  1. to utter (something) in a murmur
  2. intr to complain in a murmur

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Derived Forms

  • ˈmurmuring, nounadjective
  • ˈmurmurer, noun
  • ˈmurmurous, adjective
  • ˈmurmuringly, adverb

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Other Words From

  • murmur·er noun
  • murmur·less adjective
  • murmur·less·ly adverb
  • un·murmured adjective
  • un·murmur·ing adjective
  • un·murmur·ing·ly adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of murmur1

First recorded in 1275–1325; verb murmur from Middle English murmuren, from Latin murmurāre “to mutter, make a gentle sound, roar, grumble,” a Latin development of mormor-, murmur-, a Proto-Indo-European onomatopoeic root that appears in Greek mormýrein “(of water) to boil noisily,” Sanskirt marmara- “rustling, rushing,” Lithuanian murmėti “to babble, mutter,” and German murmeln “to mumble, murmur”; noun murmur also from Middle English, from Latin

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Word History and Origins

Origin of murmur1

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

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Synonym Study

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.

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Example Sentences

Selling off the extras, I saw my neighbor marvel at the scent and murmur that he wished he could afford one.

Then in a kind and soothing murmur he ran over the important points with Vance, who stood like one stunned.

The crowd on the floor responded with a half-hearted murmur of assent.

The mix of cooking segments, pop concerts, and celebrity interviews is met with an unappreciative murmur.

They occurred without a murmur of protest from the United States.

Bernard folded his hands together—almost devoutly—and stood gazing at her with a long, inarticulate murmur of satisfaction.

Her glance wandered from his face away toward the Gulf, whose sonorous murmur reached her like a loving but imperative entreaty.

The leaves were motionless, the river crept past without a murmur, the dark hills rose out of the distant desert like a wave.

At the store he would never have given in, but he was not accustomed to hearing so loud a murmur of approval greet the opposition.

“Akhab Khan prevented those Shia dogs from shooting you and Mayne-sahib,” went on the low murmur.

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