MURMUR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does murmur mean? 

• MURMUR (noun)
  The noun MURMUR has 4 senses:

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

2. a schwa that is incidental to the pronunciation of a consonant

3. an abnormal sound of the heart; sometimes a sign of abnormal function of the heart valves

4. a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone

  Familiarity information: MURMUR used as a noun is uncommon.

• MURMUR (verb)
  The verb MURMUR has 2 senses:

1. speak softly or indistinctly

2. make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath

  Familiarity information: MURMUR used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MURMUR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

murmur; murmuration; murmuring; mussitation; mutter; muttering

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 2

Meaning:

A schwa that is incidental to the pronunciation of a consonant

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

murmur; murmur vowel

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

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

Sense 3

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

cardiac murmur; heart murmur; murmur

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)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

grumble; grumbling; murmur; murmuring; mutter; muttering

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

complaint (an expression of grievance or resentment)

Derivation:

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

• MURMUR (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they murmur    ... he / she / it murmurs   
Past simple: murmured   
Past participle: murmured   
-ing form: murmuring   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Speak softly or indistinctly

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

She murmured softly to the baby in her arms

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

croak; gnarl; grumble; murmur; mutter

Context example:

she grumbles when she feels overworked

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)

 Context examples 

"It is like!" he murmured; "the eye is well managed: the colour, light, expression, are perfect. It smiles!"

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

"It was a long time ago," she murmured contemplatively.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Traddles and I both expressed, by a feeling murmur, that this great discovery was no doubt true of Mr. Micawber, and that it did him much credit.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Fearing to betray herself, she slipped away, murmuring something about needing more paper.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"For my part, I will bear all the unhappiness without a murmur, if you will give me the heart."

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

“Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor,” murmured Holmes without opening his eyes.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When we did, however, a murmur of startled surprise ran from one to the other of us.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“My!” she murmured, “you startled me, and you are cruel.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“Pray, what did you do then?” he murmured.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"It is a large canvas," I murmured.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)