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murmur

 - 6 dictionary results

mur⋅mur

  [mur-mer]
Use murmur in a Sentence
–noun
1. a low, continuous sound, as of a brook, the wind, or trees, or of low, indistinct voices.
2. a mumbled or private expression of discontent.
3. Also called heart murmur. Medicine/Medical.
a. an abnormal sound heard on listening to the heart, usually through a stethoscope, produced by the blood passing through deformed cardiac valves.
b. 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)
5. to make a low or indistinct sound, esp. continuously.
6. to speak in a low tone or indistinctly.
7. to complain in a low tone or in private.
–verb (used with object)
8. to sound by murmurs.
9. to utter in a low tone: He murmured a threat as he left the room.
Origin:
1275–1325; (v.) ME murmuren < L murmurāre; (n.) ME < L

Related forms:
mur⋅mur⋅er, noun
mur⋅mur⋅less, adjective
mur⋅mur⋅less⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
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 Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To murmur
mur·mur   (mûr'mər)   
n.  

  1. A low, indistinct, continuous sound: spoke in a murmur; the murmur of the waves.

  2. An indistinct, whispered, or confidential complaint; a mutter.

  3. Medicine An abnormal sound, usually emanating from the heart, that sometimes indicates a diseased condition.

v.   mur·mured, mur·mur·ing, mur·murs

v.   intr.

  1. To make a low, continuous, indistinct sound or succession of sounds.

  2. To complain in low mumbling tones; grumble.

v.   tr.
To say in a low indistinct voice; utter indistinctly: murmured his approval.

[Middle English murmure, from Old French, from Latin murmur, a humming, roaring, of imitative origin.]
mur'mur·er n., mur'mur·ing·ly adv., mur'mur·ous adj., mur'mur·ous·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

murmur  (n.)
c.1381, "expression of discontent by grumbling," from O.Fr. murmure (12c.), noun of action from murmurer, from L. murmurare, from murmur (n.) "a hum, muttering, rushing," probably from a PIE reduplicative base *mor-mor, of imitative origin (cf. Skt. murmurah "crackling fire," Gk. mormyrein "to roar, boil," Lith. murmlenti "to murmur"). Meaning "softly spoken words" is from 1674. The verb is first attested c.1386.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: mur·mur
Pronunciation: 'm&r-m&r
Function: noun
: an atypical sound of the heart indicating a functional or structural abnormalitycalled also heart murmur
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

murmur mur·mur (mûr'mər)
n.
An abnormal sound heard on auscultation of the heart, lungs, or blood vessels.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Encyclopedia

murmur

in phonetics, a speech sound or quality used in some languages, produced by vibrating vocal cords that are less tense than in normal speech, which produces local turbulence in the airstream resulting in a compromise between full voice and whisper. English speakers produce a vocal fry when suggesting ghost wails with an oo-sound. See also voice; whisper.

Learn more about murmur with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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