Library / English Dictionary

MURMUR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A schwa that is incidental to the pronunciation of a consonant

Synonyms:

murmur; murmur vowel

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("murmur" is a kind of...):

schwa; shwa (a neutral middle vowel; occurs in unstressed syllables)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone

Synonyms:

grumble; grumbling; murmur; murmuring; mutter; muttering

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("murmur" is a kind of...):

complaint (an expression of grievance or resentment)

Derivation:

murmur (make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech

Synonyms:

murmur; murmuration; murmuring; mussitation; mutter; muttering

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("murmur" is a kind of...):

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

Derivation:

murmur (speak softly or indistinctly)

murmurer (a person who speaks softly and indistinctly)

murmurous (characterized by soft sounds)

Sense 4

Meaning:

An abnormal sound of the heart; sometimes a sign of abnormal function of the heart valves

Synonyms:

cardiac murmur; heart murmur; murmur

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("murmur" is a kind of...):

symptom ((medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "murmur"):

systolic murmur (a murmur heard during systole)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath

Example:

she grumbles when she feels overworked

Synonyms:

croak; gnarl; grumble; murmur; mutter

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "murmur" is one way to...):

complain; kick; kvetch; plain; quetch; sound off (express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

murmur (a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone)

murmurer (a person who speaks softly and indistinctly)

murmuring (a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Speak softly or indistinctly

Example:

She murmured softly to the baby in her arms

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "murmur" is one way to...):

mouth; speak; talk; utter; verbalise; verbalize (express in speech)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "murmur"):

coo (speak softly or lovingly)

susurrate (issue soft noises)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue murmur

Derivation:

murmur; murmuration (a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech)

murmurer (a person who speaks softly and indistinctly)

murmuring (a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The night had been exceedingly still, but as I advanced I became conscious of a low, rumbling sound, a continuous murmur, somewhere in front of me.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Such were the gentle murmurs of Mrs. Bennet, and they gave way only to the greater distress of Mr. Bingley's continued absence.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Not at all, not at all; there is not an oath or a murmur from beginning to end.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Hollow murmurs seemed to creep along the gallery, and more than once her blood was chilled by the sound of distant moans.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

There was another murmur of professional agreement.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Murmurs of admiration at his splendid appearance went up.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

There had been at one moment a slight murmur in the drawing-room at Mansfield Park about sending her a prayer-book; but no second sound had been heard of such a purpose.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

And she leaned back in the corner, to indulge her murmurs, or to reason them away; probably a little of both—such being the commonest process of a not ill-disposed mind.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He threw it open, and as he did so there was a low, harsh murmur, growing steadily into a loud roar as a train dashed past us in the darkness.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Ben, Ben,” murmured Silver, “to think as you've done me!”

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)