Adjacent Words

Murmur definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

MUR'MUR, n. [L. See the Verb.] A low sound continued or continually repeated, as that of a stream running in a stony channel, or that of flame.
Black melancholy sits,
Deepens the murmur of the falling floods,
And breathes a browner horror on the woods.
1. A complaint half suppressed, or uttered in a low,muttering voice.
Some discontents there are, some idle murmurs.
MUR'MUR, v.i. [L. murmuro.]
1. To make a low continued noise, like the hum of bees, a stream of water, rolling waves, or like the wind in a forest; as the murmuring surge.
The forests murmur and the surges roar.
2. To grumble; to complain; to utter complaints in a low,half articulated voice; to utter sullen discontent; with at, before the thing which is the cause of discontent; as, murmur not at sickness; or with at or against, before the active agent which produces the evil.
The Jews murmured at him. John 6.
The people murmured against Moses. Exodus 13.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech [syn: mutter, muttering, murmur, murmuring, murmuration, mussitation]
2: a schwa that is incidental to the pronunciation of a consonant [syn: murmur vowel, murmur]
3: an abnormal sound of the heart; sometimes a sign of abnormal function of the heart valves [syn: heart murmur, cardiac murmur, murmur]
4: a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone [syn: grumble, grumbling, murmur, murmuring, mutter, muttering] v
1: speak softly or indistinctly; "She murmured softly to the baby in her arms"
2: make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath; "she grumbles when she feels overworked" [syn: murmur, mutter, grumble, croak, gnarl]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English murmure, from Anglo-French disturbance, from Latin murmur murmur, roar, of imitative origin Date: 14th century 1. a half-suppressed or muttered complaint ; grumbling 2. a. a low indistinct but often continuous sound b. a soft or gentle utterance 3. an atypical sound of the heart typically indicating a functional or structural abnormality II. verb Date: 14th century intransitive verb 1. to make a murmur <the breeze murmured in the pines> 2. complain, grumble transitive verb to say in a murmur • murmurer noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a subdued continuous sound, as made by waves, a brook, etc. 2 a softly spoken or nearly inarticulate utterance. 3 Med. a recurring sound heard in the auscultation of the heart and usu. indicating abnormality. 4 a subdued expression of discontent. --v. 1 intr. make a subdued continuous sound. 2 tr. utter (words) in a low voice. 3 intr. (usu. foll. by at, against) complain in low tones, grumble. Derivatives: murmurer n. murmuringly adv. murmurous adj. Etymology: ME f. OF murmurer f. L murmurare: cf. Gk mormuro (of water) roar, Skr. marmaras noisy

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Murmur Mur"mur, n. [F. murmure: cf. L. murmur. CF. Murmur, v. i.] 1. A low, confused, and indistinct sound, like that of running water. 2. A complaint half suppressed, or uttered in a low, muttering voice. --Chaucer. Some discontents there are, some idle murmurs. --Dryden.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Murmur Mur"mur, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Murmured; p. pr. & vb. n. Murmuring.] [F. murmurer, L. murmurare, murmurari, fr. murmur murmur; cf. Gr.? to roar and boil, said of water, Skr. marmara a rustling sound; prob. of imitative origin.] 1. To make a low continued noise, like the hum of bees, a stream of water, distant waves, or the wind in a forest. They murmured as doth a swarm of bees. --Chaucer. 2. To utter complaints in a low, half-articulated voice; to feel or express dissatisfaction or discontent; to grumble; -- often with at or against. ``His disciples murmured at it.'' --John vi. 61. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron. --Num. xiv. 2. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured. --1 Cor. x. 10.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Murmur Mur"mur, v. t. To utter or give forth in low or indistinct words or sounds; as, to murmur tales. --Shak. The people murmured such things concerning him. --John vii. 32.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(murmurs, murmuring, murmured) 1. If you murmur something, you say it very quietly, so that not many people can hear what you are saying. He turned and murmured something to the professor... She murmured a few words of support... 'How lovely,' she murmured... Murmuring softly that they must go somewhere to talk, he led her from the garden. VERB: V n to n, V n, V with quote, V that 2. A murmur is something that is said which can hardly be heard. They spoke in low murmurs... N-COUNT: usu adj N 3. A murmur is a continuous low sound, like the noise of a river or of voices far away. The piano music mixes with the murmur of conversation... The clamor of traffic has receded to a distant murmur. = hum N-SING: with supp 4. A murmur of a particular emotion is a quiet expression of it. The promise of some basic working rights draws murmurs of approval... N-COUNT: with supp 5. A murmur is an abnormal sound which is made by the heart and which shows that there is probably something wrong with it. The doctor said James had now developed a heart murmur. N-COUNT: usu sing 6. If someone does something without a murmur, they do it without complaining. PHRASE: PHR after v

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Whisper; low, continuous sound, hum. 2. Complaint, plaint, whimper, grumble, mutter. 3. Mutter, indistinct utterance, undertone. II. v. n. 1. Make a low, continued sound. 2. Complain, repine, croak, grumble, mutter. 3. Mutter, whisper.

Moby Thesaurus

air a grievance, aspirate, aspiration, bark, bated breath, bawl, beef, bellow, bellyache, bitch, blare, blat, blubber, boom, bray, breath, breathe, breathy voice, buzz, buzzing, cackle, chant, chirp, clamor, complain, complaining, complaint, coo, crab, croak, crow, cry, dolorous tirade, drawl, drone, droning, exclaim, exhalation, flute, fret, fret and fume, fumble, fuss, gabble, gasp, gibber, gossip, grapevine, gripe, groan, grouch, grouse, grousing, growl, grumble, grumbling, grunt, hearsay, hiss, holler, howl, hum, humming, jabber, jeremiad, keen, kick, lament, lilt, little voice, lodge a complaint, low voice, maffle, maunder, moan, mouth, muddle, mumble, mumbling, murmuration, murmuring, mussitate, mutter, muttering, outcry, pant, pipe, plaint, planctus, purr, raise a howl, register a complaint, repine, roar, rumble, rumbling, rumor, scold, scream, screech, scuttlebutt, shriek, sibilate, sigh, sing, snap, snarl, snort, sob, soft voice, sough, speak incoherently, splutter, sputter, squall, squawk, squeal, stage whisper, still small voice, susurrate, susurration, susurrus, swallow, take on, talk, thunder, tirade, trumpet, twang, ululation, underbreath, undercurrent, undertone, wail, wail of woe, warble, whimper, whine, whisper, whispering, whistle, yap, yawp, yell, yelp, yowl