Murmur

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: mur=mur

CIDE DICTIONARY

Murmur, n. [F. murmure: cf. L. murmur. CF. Murmur, v. i.].

•  A low, confused, and indistinct sound, like that of running water.  [1913 Webster]
•  A complaint half suppressed, or uttered in a low, muttering voice.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

  "Some discontents there are, some idle murmurs."  [1913 Webster]

Murmur, v. i. [F. murmurer, L. murmurare, murmurari, fr. murmur murmur; cf. Gr. to roar and boil, said of water, Skr. marmara a rustling sound; prob. of imitative origin.].

•  To make a low continued noise, like the hum of bees, a stream of water, distant waves, or the wind in a forest.  [1913 Webster]

  "They murmured as doth a swarm of bees."  [1913 Webster]
•  To utter complaints in a low, half-articulated voice; to feel or express dissatisfaction or discontent; to grumble; -- often with at or against.  John vi. 61.  [1913 Webster]

  "And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron."  [1913 Webster]

  "Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured."  [1913 Webster]

Murmur, v. t. 

 To utter or give forth in low or indistinct words or sounds; as, to murmur tales.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
"The people murmured such things concerning him."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Murmur, n. & v.
--n.
1 a subdued continuous sound, as made by waves, a brook, etc.
2 a softly spoken or nearly inarticulate utterance.
3 Med. a recurring sound heard in the auscultation of the heart and usu. indicating abnormality.
4 a subdued expression of discontent.
--v.
1 intr. make a subdued continuous sound.
2 tr. utter (words) in a low voice.
3 intr. (usu. foll. by at, against) complain in low tones, grumble.

Derivative

murmurer n. murmuringly adv. murmurous adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF murmurer f. L murmurare: cf. Gk mormuro (of water) roar, Skr. marmaras noisy

THESAURUS

Murmur

air a grievance, aspirate, aspiration, bark, bated breath, bawl, beef, bellow, bellyache, bitch, blare, blat, blubber, boom, bray, breath, breathe, breathy voice, buzz, buzzing, cackle, chant, chirp, clamor, complain, complaining, complaint, coo, crab, croak, crow, cry, dolorous tirade, drawl, drone, droning, exclaim, exhalation, flute, fret, fret and fume, fumble, fuss, gabble, gasp, gibber, gossip, grapevine, gripe, groan, grouch, grouse, grousing, growl, grumble, grumbling, grunt, hearsay, hiss, holler, howl, hum, humming, jabber, jeremiad, keen, kick, lament, lilt, little voice, lodge a complaint, low voice, maffle, maunder, moan, mouth, muddle, mumble, mumbling, murmuration, murmuring, mussitate, mutter, muttering, outcry, pant, pipe, plaint, planctus, purr, raise a howl, register a complaint, repine, roar, rumble, rumbling, rumor, scold, scream, screech, scuttlebutt, shriek, sibilate, sigh, sing, snap, snarl, snort, sob, soft voice, sough, speak incoherently, splutter, sputter, squall, squawk, squeal, stage whisper, still small voice, susurrate, susurration, susurrus, swallow, take on, talk, thunder, tirade, trumpet, twang, ululation, underbreath, undercurrent, undertone, wail, wail of woe, warble, whimper, whine, whisper, whispering, whistle, yap, yawp, yell, yelp, yowl

ROGET THESAURUS

Murmur

Lamentation

N lament, lamentation, wail, complaint, plaint, murmur, mutter, grumble, groan, moan, whine, whimper, sob, sigh, suspiration, heaving, deep sigh, cry, scream, howl, outcry, wail of woe, ululation, frown, scowl, tear, weeping, flood of tears, fit of crying, lacrimation, lachrymation, melting mood, weeping and gnashing of teeth, plaintiveness, languishment, condolence, mourning, weeds, willow, cypress, crape, deep mourning, sackcloth and ashes, lachrymatory, knell, deep death song, dirge, coronach, nenia, requiem, elegy, epicedium, threne, monody, threnody, jeremiad, jeremiade, ullalulla, mourner, grumbler, Noobe, Heraclitus, lamenting, in mourning, in sackcloth and ashes, sorrowing, sorrowful, mournful, tearful, lachrymose, plaintive, plaintful, querulous, querimonious, in the melting mood, threnetic, in tears, with tears in one's eyes, with moistened eyes, with watery eyes, bathed in tears, dissolved in tears, like Niobe all tears, elegiac, epicedial, de profundis, les larmes aux yeux, Int, heigh-ho!, alas!, alack!, O dear!, ah me!, woe is me!, lackadaisy!, well a day!, lack a day!, alack a day!, wellaway!, alas the day!, O tempora O mores!, what a pity!, miserabile dictu!, O lud lud!, too true!, tears standing in the eyes, tears starting from the eyes, eyes suffused, eyes swimming, eyes brimming, eyes overflowing with tears, if you have tears prepare to shed them now, interdum lacrymae pondera vocis habent, strangled his language in his tears, tears such as angels weep.

VB lament, mourn, deplore, grieve, weep over, bewail, bemoan, condole with, fret, wear mourning, go into mourning, put on mourning, wear the willow, wear sackcloth and ashes, infandum renovare dolorem, give sorrow words, sigh, give a sigh, heave, fetch a sigh, waft a sigh from Indus to the pole, sigh 'like a furnace', wail, cry, weep, sob, greet, blubber, pipe, snivel, bibber, whimper, pule, pipe one's eye, drop tears, shed tears, drop a tear, shed a tear, melt into tears, burst into tears, fondre en larmes, cry oneself blind, cry one's eyes out, yammer, scream, mew, groan, moan, whine, roar, roar like a bull, bellow like a bull, cry out lustily, rend the air, frown, scowl, make a wry face, gnash one's teeth, wring one's hands, tear one's hair, beat one's breast, roll on the ground, burst with grief, complain, murmur, mutter, grumble, growl, clamor, make a fuss about, croak, grunt, maunder, deprecate, cry out before one is hurt, complain without cause.

River

VB flow, run, meander, gush, pour, spout, roll, jet, well, issue, drop, drip, dribble, plash, spirtle, trill, trickle, distill, percolate, stream, overflow, inundate, deluge, flow over, splash, swash, guggle, murmur, babble, bubble, purl, gurgle, sputter, spurt, spray, regurgitate, ooze, flow out, rain hard, rain in torrents, rain cats and dogs, rain pitchforks, pour with rain, drizzle, spit, set in, mizzle, flow into, fall into, open into, drain into, discharge itself, disembogue, pour, pour out, shower down, irrigate, drench, spill, splash, stanch, dam, up, obstruct.

Faintness

N faintness, faint sound, whisper, breath, undertone, underbreath, murmur, hum, susurration, tinkle, still small voice, hoarseness, raucity, inaudible, scarcely audible, just audible, low, dull, stifled, muffled, hoarse, husky, gentle, soft, faint, floating, purling, flowing, whispered, liquid, soothing, dulcet, susurrant, susurrous, in a whisper, with bated breath, sotto voce, between the teeth, aside, piano, pianissimo, d la sourdine, out of earshot inaudibly, (ii) SPECIFIC SOUNDS.

VB whisper, breathe, murmur, purl, hum, gurgle, ripple, babble, flow, tinkle, mutter, susurrate, steal on the ear, melt in the air, float on the air.