First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1murmur
noun mur·mur \ˈmər-mər\
: a low sound made when many people are speaking
: a quiet expression of an opinion or feeling
: speech or a way of speaking that is quiet and soft
Full Definition of MURMUR
1
: a half-suppressed or muttered complaint : grumbling
2
a : a low indistinct but often continuous sound b : a soft or gentle utterance
3
: an atypical sound of the heart typically indicating a functional or structural abnormality
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See murmur defined for kids
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Origin of MURMUR
Middle English murmure, from Anglo-French disturbance, from Latin murmur murmur, roar, of imitative origin
Related to MURMUR
2murmur
verb
: to say (something) in a quiet and soft voice
: to make a low, continuous sound
Full Definition of MURMUR
intransitive verb
1
: to make a murmur <the breeze murmured in the pines>
transitive verb
: to say in a murmur
— mur·mur·er noun
See murmur defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of MURMUR
14th century
Related to MURMUR
- Synonyms
- beef, bellyache, bitch, bleat, carp, caterwaul, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grizzle, grouch, grouse, growl, grumble, grump, holler, inveigh, keen, kick, kvetch, maunder [chiefly British], moan, complain, mutter, nag, repine, scream, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, whinge [British], yammer, yawp (or yaup), yowl
MURMURER Defined for Kids
1murmur
noun mur·mur \ˈmər-mər\
Definition of MURMUR for Kids
1
: a low faint sound <the murmur of voices>
2
: a quiet expression of an opinion or feeling <murmurs of approval>
2murmur
verb
mur·muredmur·mur·ing
Definition of MURMUR for Kids
1
: to make a low faint sound <The breeze murmured in the trees.>
2
: to say in a voice too quiet to be heard clearly <She murmured “thank you” as she left.>
Medical Dictionary
murmur
noun mur·mur \ˈmər-mər\
Medical Definition of MURMUR
: an atypical sound of the heart typically indicating a functional or structural abnormality—called also heart murmur
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