murmur

plural murmurs

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

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

   1 more example

   The delightful murmur of water running over pebbles is heard a few yards off

   1854, Narrative of a Journey Round the Dead Sea, and in the Bible Lands

2. countableuncountableSoft indistinct speech.

   A murmur arose from the audience.

   4 more examples

   She howl'd aloud, “I am on fire within. / There comes no murmur of reply. / What is it that will take away my sin, / And save me lest I die?”

   1842, Alfred Tennyson, “The Palace of Art”, in Poems. […], volume I, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 154

   In the prison of the 'tween decks reigned a darkness pregnant with murmurs. The sentry at the entrance to the hatchway was supposed to "prevent the prisoners from making a noise," but he put a very liberal interpretation upon the clause, and so long as the prisoners refrained from shouting, yelling, and fighting--eccentricities in which they sometimes indulged--he did not disturb them.

   1874, Marcus Clarke, chapter V, in For the Term of His Natural Life

   The moment had come for the honeyed word. I lowered my voice to a confidential murmur, but on her inquiring if I had laryngitis raised it again.

   1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter XI, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC

   [President Trump's firing of a dozen inspectors general] seems to have violated a law requiring that he provide 30 days’ notice, and set off a rare murmur of dissent from Capitol Hill Republicans.

   2025 January 30, Cameron Joseph, “Trump goes to war with the federal workforce”, in The Christian Science Monitor

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

   Since aortic diastolic pressure is higher than pulmonary artery systolic pressure, there is continuous flow into the pulmonary circulation, creating the characteristic continuous ("machinery") murmur, heard best just below the left clavicle.

   2004, Euan A. Ashley, Josef Niebauer, Cardiology Explained

4. countableuncountableA muttered complaint or protest; the expression of dissatisfaction in a low muttering voice; any expression of complaint or discontent.

   In fear of disease and in the interest of his health man will be muzzled and masked like a vicious dog, and that without any murmur of complaint.

   1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human Progress

   1 more example

   Glossop will return from his afternoon off to find the awful majesty of the Law waiting for him, complete with handcuffs. We can hardly expect him to accept an exemplary sentence without a murmur, so his first move will be to establish his innocence by revealing all.

   1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter XX, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC

present singular third person murmurs · participle present murmuring · participle past murmured · past murmured

1. archaicintransitiveTo grumble; to complain in a low, muttering voice, or express discontent at or against someone or something.First known use 14th c.

   The Iewes then murmured at him because he sayde: I am that breed which is come doune from heaven.

   1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, John vj:[41]

   1 more example

   And now, behold thy brothers murmur, saying it is a hard thing which I have required of them; but behold I have not required it of them, but it is a commandment of the Lord.

   1830, The Book of Mormon

2. intransitiveTo speak or make low, indistinguishable noise; to mumble, mutter.First known use 14th c.

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

   2 more examples

   The bees murmured in the forest. The waves murmured on the shore.

   “Oh yes,” he murmured in a tone of obligatory surprise, as he proceeded to make the kind of 2 which he attributed to Margaret's style of chirography.

   1921, Ben Travers, chapter 7, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC

3. transitiveTo say (something) indistinctly, to mutter.First known use 15th c.

   I […] heard thee murmur tales of iron wars;

   c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], line 51

   3 more examples

   Gabriel murmured a confused reply, and hastened on.

   1874, Thomas Hardy, chapter 21, in Far from the Madding Crowd. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], →OCLC

   With a husky voice she murmured that he was the very dearest grandfather anyone ever had.

   1942, Lloyd C. Douglas, chapter 7, in The Robe

   “[…] Don’t look now,” he murmured, lowering his eyes demurely, “but the most handsome man in Brookfield, Connecticut, has just walked in the room.”

   1978, Andrew Holleran, chapter 4, in Dancer from the Dance, New York: New American Library, published 1986, page 105