murmur

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈmɜːmə/ 🇺🇸 /ˈmɜrmɜr/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A soft, low, continuous sound, such as that made by a stream, wind, or distant voices.; A soft, indistinct utterance or complaint, often expressing dissatisfaction or discontent.; An abnormal sound heard through a stethoscope, caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart or blood vessels.; A low, indistinct sound made by a group of people talking quietly.
  2. verb
    To speak or say something in a soft, low, or indistinct voice.; To make a soft, continuous sound, as of wind, water, or leaves.; To complain or grumble in a low, subdued voice.; To say something in a murmuring manner, often as a form of private or secret communication.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: murmurs 3rd sing.: murmurs Past: murmured Past part.: murmured Pres part.: murmuring

Collocations

murmur of approvalmurmur of discontentheart murmurmurmur softlymurmur againsta faint murmur

Derivatives

murmuringmurmurousmurmuration

Synonyms

whispermutterhumdronerustlemumble

Antonyms

shoutroarbellow

Commonly confused

mutter
EN: 'Mutter' implies grumbling or complaining in a low, often indistinct voice; 'murmur' is a softer, more continuous low sound not necessarily negative.
mumble
EN: 'Mumble' emphasizes unclear, indistinct articulation; 'murmur' emphasizes low volume and can still be intelligible.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the repeated 'mur' pattern: mur-mur. A common error is dropping one 'r' or writing 'murmor'.

💬 Examples

  1. The murmur of the brook lulled her to sleep.

  2. There were murmurs of discontent among the workers after the announcement.

  3. The doctor detected a heart murmur during the routine examination.

  4. A murmur of conversation filled the crowded room.

  5. She murmured a few words of thanks before leaving.

  6. The wind murmured through the tall grass.

  7. The students murmured about the unfair exam schedule.

  8. He murmured the secret password into her ear.