mutter

CEFRC1

/ˈmʌtə/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To speak in a low, difficult-to-hear voice.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To speak softly and incoherently, or with imperfect articulations.

Examples

  • Don't mutter to yourself under your breath, but speak clearly and distinctly.

  • The beggar muttered words of thanks, as passersby dropped coins in his cup.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
3
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • [ˈmʌɾɚ]

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To utter words, especially complaints or angry expressions, indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; to say under one's breath.

  2. To make a sound with a low, rumbling noise.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. A repressed or obscure utterance; an instance of muttering.

More examples

In context

  • The prisoners were docile, and accepted their lot with barely a mutter.

  • You could hear the students mutter as they were served sodden spaghetti, yet again, in the cafeteria.

  • Paul heard Amelia mutter: "Oh, shit!"

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The unhappy employee began to blank complaints under his breath about the new policy.

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

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English muteren, moteren, of imitative origin. Compare Low German mustern, musseln (“to whisper”), German muttern (“to mutter; whisper”), Old Norse muðla (“to murmur”). Compare also Latin muttīre, mutīre.