murmur

CEFRC1

/ˈmɜːmə/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To speak very quietly, often in a low continuous sound.

  2. 02

    noun

    A quiet, low continuous sound or voice.

Examples

  • The murmur of the brook lulls me to sleep.

  • There was a murmur when she entered the room.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
3

Also pronounced

  • /ˈmeːmə/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. Soft indistinct speech.

  2. The sound made by any condition which produces a noisy, or turbulent, flow of blood through the heart.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. Any low, indistinct sound, like that of running water.

More examples

In context

  • 1979: A translation of the Eclogues by Paul Alpers The windy murmur of the breeze subsides.

  • I couldn't hear the words; he just murmured a lot.

  • A murmur arose from the audience.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

In the quiet library, the only sound was the soft blank of the wind outside.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English murmur, murmor, murmour, from Old French murmure (modern French murmure), from Latin murmur (“murmur, humming, muttering, roaring, growling, rushing etc.”).