English
murmur
Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /ˈmɜː.mə(ɹ)/
  • (GA) IPA: /ˈmɝ.mɚ/
Noun

murmur

  1. (countable, uncountable) Any low, indistinct sound, like that of running water.
  2. (countable, uncountable) Soft indistinct speech.
    A murmur arose from the audience.
    • 1874, Marcus Clarke, For the Term of His Natural Life, chapter V:
      In the prison of the 'tween decks reigned a darkness pregnant with murmurs. The sentry at the entrance to the hatchway was supposed to "prevent the prisoners from making a noise," but he put a very liberal interpretation upon the clause, and so long as the prisoners refrained from shouting, yelling, and fighting--eccentricities in which they sometimes indulged--he did not disturb them.
    • 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter XI:
      The moment had come for the honeyed word. I lowered my voice to a confidential murmur, but on her inquiring if I had laryngitis raised it again.
  3. (cardiology, medicine) The sound made by any condition which produces noisy, or turbulent, flow of blood through the heart.
  4. A muttered complaint or protest; the expression of dissatisfaction in a low muttering voice; any expression of complaint or discontent
    • 1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human Progress:
      In fear of disease and in the interest of his health man will be muzzled and masked like a vicious dog, and that without any murmur of complaint.
    • 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter XX:
      Glossop will return from his afternoon off to find the awful majesty of the Law waiting for him, complete with handcuffs. We can hardly expect him to accept an exemplary sentence without a murmur, so his first move will be to establish his innocence by revealing all.
Translations Translations Translations Verb

murmur (murmurs, present participle murmuring; past and past participle murmured)

  1. (intransitive, now rare) To grumble; to complain in a low, muttering voice, or express discontent at or against someone or something. [from 14th c.]
    • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, John 6:41:
      The Iewes then murmured at him because he sayde: I am that breed which is come doune from heaven.
  2. (intransitive) To speak or make low, indistinguishable noise; to mumble, mutter. [from 14th c.]
    I couldn't hear the words; he just murmured a lot.
    The bees murmured in the forest. The waves murmured on the shore.
  3. (transitive) To say (something) indistinctly, to mutter. [from 15th c.]
    • circa 1597 William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 1, Act II, Scene 3, line 51,
      I […] heard thee murmur tales of iron wars;
    • 1874, Thomas Hardy, Far from the Madding Crowd, Chapter 21,
      Gabriel murmured a confused reply, and hastened on.
    • 1942, Lloyd C. Douglas, The Robe, Chapter 7,
      With a husky voice she murmured that he was the very dearest grandfather anyone ever had.
    • 1978, Andrew Holleran, Dancer from the Dance, New York: New American Library, 1986, Chapter 4, p. 105,
      “ […] Don’t look now,” he murmured, lowering his eyes demurely, “but the most handsome man in Brookfield, Connecticut, has just walked in the room.”
Synonyms Translations

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