MURMURING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does murmuring mean? 

• MURMURING (noun)
  The noun MURMURING has 2 senses:

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

2. a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone

  Familiarity information: MURMURING used as a noun is rare.

• MURMURING (adjective)
  The adjective MURMURING has 1 sense:

1. making a low continuous indistinct sound

  Familiarity information: MURMURING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MURMURING (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 ("murmuring" is a kind of...):

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

Derivation:

murmur (speak softly or indistinctly)

Sense 2

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 ("murmuring" is a kind of...):

complaint (an expression of grievance or resentment)

Derivation:

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

• MURMURING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Making a low continuous indistinct sound

Synonyms:

murmuring; susurrant; whispering

Context example:

susurrant voices

Similar:

soft ((of sound) relatively low in volume)

 Context examples 

And grip and thrill they did, till I fell asleep, murmuring them to myself over and over again.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

But though her wishes were overthrown, there was no spirit of murmuring within her.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

She sat sobbing and murmuring behind it, that, if I was uneasy, why had I ever been married?

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

But the instant she vanished, Meg began to sidle toward the door, murmuring...

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Eliza generally took no more notice of her sister's indolence and complaints than if no such murmuring, lounging object had been before her.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

He staggered along like a drunken man, murmuring fervently aloud: "By God! By God!"

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Then one night, just as the moon rose, he grew quiet, and kept murmuring to himself: "Now I can wait; now I can wait."

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

His voice was as smooth and suave as his countenance, as he advanced with a plump little hand extended, murmuring his regret for having missed us at his first visit.

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

I then moved forward, and a murmuring sound arose from the crowd as they followed and surrounded me, when an ill-looking man approaching tapped me on the shoulder and said, Come, sir, you must follow me to Mr. Kirwin’s to give an account of yourself.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

A little way off was a small brook, rushing and sparkling along between green banks, and murmuring in a voice very grateful to a little girl who had lived so long on the dry, gray prairies.

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