Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense murmurs, present participle murmuring, past tense, past participle murmured
1. verb
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. [VERB noun + to]
She murmured a few words of support. [VERB noun]
'How lovely,' she murmured. [VERB with quote]
Murmuring softly that they must go somewhere to talk, he led her from the garden. [VERB that]
Synonyms: mumble, whisper, mutter, drone More Synonyms of murmur
2. countable noun [usually adjective NOUN]
A murmur is something that is said which can hardly be heard.
They spoke in low murmurs.
She gave a little murmur.
3. singular noun
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. [+ of]
I could hear the murmur of the sea.
The clamor of traffic has receded to a distant murmur.
Synonyms: drone, buzz, hum, purr More Synonyms of murmur
4. countable noun
A murmurof a particular emotion is a quiet expression of it.
The promise of some basic working rights draws murmurs of approval. [+ of]
Already there are murmurs of discontent. [+ of]
5. countable noun [usually singular]
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.
6.
See without a murmur
More Synonyms of murmur
murmur in British English
(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. medicine
any abnormal soft blowing sound heard within the body, usually over the chest
See also heart murmur
verbWord forms: -murs, -muring or -mured
5.
to utter (something) in a murmur
6. (intransitive)
to complain in a murmur
Derived forms
murmurer (ˈmurmurer)
noun
murmuring (ˈmurmuring)
noun, adjective
murmuringly (ˈmurmuringly)
adverb
murmurous (ˈmurmurous)
adjective
Word origin
C14: as n, from Latin murmur; vb via Old French murmurer from Latin murmurāre to rumble
murmur in American English
(ˈmɜrmər)
noun
1.
a low, indistinct, continuous sound, as of a stream, far-off voices, etc.
2.
a mumbled or muttered complaint
3. Medicine
any abnormal sound heard by auscultation, esp. of the heart
verb intransitive
4.
to make a murmur
5.
to mumble or mutter a complaint
verb transitive
6.
to say in a murmur
SYNONYMY NOTE: murmur implies a continuous flow of words or sounds in a low, indistinct voice and may applyto utterances of satisfaction or dissatisfaction [to murmur a prayer]; mutter usually suggests angry or discontented words or sounds of this kind [to mutter curses]; to mumble is to utter almost inaudible or inarticulate sounds in low tones, with the mouthnearly closed [an old woman mumbling to herself]
Derived forms
murmuration (ˌmurmurˈation)
noun
murmurer (ˈmurmurer)
noun
murmuring (ˈmurmuring)
adjective
Word origin
ME murmure < OFr < L, a murmur, roar, muttering < IE echoic base *mormor-, *murmur- > Sans marmara-, Gr mormurein
Examples of 'murmur' in a sentence
murmur
A murmur of approval rippled around the room.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But the two former aces took it without a murmur of complaint.
The Sun (2009)
There is not the slightest murmur of road noise or neighbours.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The vet said that she had a heart murmur.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Distant cars murmured like waves on a beach.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
During the night two young partisans sat on guard at the bedroom door listening to murmured conversation.
Alan Whicker Whicker's War
She murmured something belligerent and turned away.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Low murmurs from the sixth form filter down.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He became a goalkeeper when a heart murmur stopped him playing in outfield positions as a youngster.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
All these conditions tend to be recognised in childhood when abnormal heart sounds and murmurs are heard.
Petch, Dr Michael BMA Family Doctor Guide - Heart Disease (1989)
As they bend over their work, they keep up a low murmur of conversation.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The paramedic said he was still alive, moving his hand and murmuring something.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He has gone deep inside himself, his voice a low murmuring grumble.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But he was puzzled very much by a strange murmuring noise, which followed them all the way.
Charles Kingsley The Water Babies (1863)
As each leader announced a portion of the sentence, loud murmurs of approval rose from the throng.
Christianity Today (2000)
A blur of faces and the murmur of their soft questions.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
This failure to hold on to their lead will add to the growing murmurs of discontent in North London.
The Sun (2014)
There were political struggles, there was murmuring and discontent, but these disputes were well within the realm of normality.
Diane Purkiss The English Civil War: A People's History (2006)
In other languages
murmur
British English: murmur VERB
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.
American English: murmur
Brazilian Portuguese: murmurar
Chinese: 小声说
European Spanish: murmurar
French: murmurer
German: murmeln
Italian: mormorare
Japanese: ささやく
Korean: 중얼거리다
European Portuguese: murmurar
Latin American Spanish: murmurar
British English: murmur NOUN
A murmur is something that is said which can hardly be heard.