murmur

[ mur-mer ]

noun

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

   Synonyms: mumble, susurration, grumble, mutter, complaint

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

Derived Forms

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

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of murmur¹

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

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.

Example Sentences

He arrived on scene at 09:30 GMT but it was a further five hours before a hushed murmur rippled through the crowd, signalling the bird had become visible.

From BBC

Maria Stewart, for example, exhorted her listeners by claiming, “Do not let your hearts be any longer discouraged; it is no use to murmur nor to repine; but let us promote ourselves and improve our own talents.”

From Salon

“I understand why someone who discovered the band early on saw them in little bars, and heard ‘Murmur,’ and internalized those early albums as the apex of their sound,” says Carlin.

From Los Angeles Times

The band followed their debut EP with “Murmur,” a 1983 album of melancholy mystery that had no precedent, and became a template for the generation of guitar bands that followed.

From Los Angeles Times

R.E.M. was now a critics’ darling; “Murmur” was embraced by college radio, becoming the most played album on stations left of the radio dial and winning virtually every critics poll for best album of the year.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• babble
• burble
• growl
• gurgle
• hum
• moan
• mumble
• mutter
• purr
• stammer
• utter
• whisper