mutter

plural mutters

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

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

present singular third person mutters · participle present muttering · participle past muttered · past muttered

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

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

   2 more examples

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

   This set – the set of Rosol's life – was studded with aces and menacing ground-strokes that left Nadal an impotent spectator often muttering to himself and at the umpire regarding a perceived misdemeanour by his opponent.

   2012 June 28, Jamie Jackson, “Wimbledon 2012: Lukas Rosol shocked by miracle win over Rafael Nadal”, in the Guardian

   Synonyms: growl, grumble, mumble

2. To speak softly and incoherently, or with imperfect articulations.

   The asylum inmate muttered some doggerel about chains and pains to himself, over and over.

   1 more example

   Meantime your filthy foreigner will stare, / And mutter to himself.

   1675, John Dryden, Aureng-zebe: A Tragedy. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1676, →OCLC, (please specify the page number)

   Synonyms: babble, mumble, murmur, ramble, stutter

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

   April could hear the delivery van's engine muttering in the driveway.

   1 more example

   Thick lightnings flash, the muttering thunder rolls.

   1715–1720, Homer, “Book VIII”, in Alexander Pope, transl., The Iliad of Homer, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC

   Synonyms: growl, putter, rumble

alternative matar

1. Indian cuisinePeas.

1. A surname.