murmur

verb

/ˈmɜːmə(r)/

/ˈmɜːrmər/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they murmur	/ˈmɜːmə(r)/ /ˈmɜːrmər/
he / she / it murmurs	/ˈmɜːməz/ /ˈmɜːrmərz/
past simple murmured	/ˈmɜːməd/ /ˈmɜːrmərd/
past participle murmured	/ˈmɜːməd/ /ˈmɜːrmərd/
-ing form murmuring	/ˈmɜːmərɪŋ/ /ˈmɜːrmərɪŋ/

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[transitive, intransitive] to say something in a soft quiet voice that is difficult to hear or understand
- murmur (something) (to somebody) She murmured her agreement.
- He murmured something in his sleep.
- She was murmuring in his ear.
- He held her tight and murmured to her.
- + speech ‘Night, night,’ she murmured sleepily.
- murmur that… She murmured that she loved me.
Extra Examples
- ‘Mmm,' she murmured appreciatively.
- ‘What a fool I've been,' he murmured softly.
- She heard him murmur something under his breath.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- gently
- quietly
- silently
- …
verb + murmur
- hear somebody
preposition
- to
See full entry
[intransitive] to make a quiet continuous sound
- The wind murmured in the trees.
[intransitive] murmur (against somebody/something) (literary) to complain about somebody/something, but not openly
- The people murmured against the new regime.

Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French murmure, from murmurer ‘to murmur’, from Latin murmurare, from murmur ‘a murmur’.

noun

/ˈmɜːmə(r)/

/ˈmɜːrmər/

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[countable] a quietly spoken word or words
- She answered in a faint murmur.
- Murmurs of ‘Praise God’ went around the circle.
Extra Examples
- He gave a little murmur of relief.
- He took the mug of coffee with a murmur of thanks.
- She answered in a low murmur.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- dull
- faint
- low
- …
verb + murmur
- give
- let out
- hear
- …
murmur + verb
- ripple through something
- run
preposition
- in a murmur
- with a murmur
- without a murmur
- …
phrases
- the murmur of voices
See full entry
[countable]
(also murmurings [plural])
a quiet expression of feeling
- a murmur of agreement/approval/complaint
- He paid the extra cost without a murmur (= without complaining at all).
- polite murmurings of gratitude
Extra Examples
- A murmur of amusement ran round the room.
- A murmur of excitement rippled through the audience.
- a general murmur of assent
- They did as they were told, without a murmur.
(also murmuring)
[singular] a low continuous sound in the background
- the distant murmur of traffic
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- soft
- low
- distant
- …
verb + murmur
- hear
preposition
- murmur of
See full entry
[countable] (medical) a very quiet sound in the chest, usually a sign of damage or disease in the heart
- a heart murmur

Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French murmure, from murmurer ‘to murmur’, from Latin murmurare, from murmur ‘a murmur’.