murmur
MER-mer
/ˈmɜːrmər/
To make a low, continuous, indistinct sound, like running water or a quiet conversation.
Suggests a continuous, gentle, and often soothing sound with vocalization, unlike the breathy quietness of a whisper.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Latin 'murmurare', which is a reduplicated Proto-Indo-European imitative root 'mor-mor'. This mimics the low, continuous sound of rushing water or a crowd talking quietly.
Word relationships
- hum: Hum is a continuous vibrating sound made with closed lips, while murmur involves low, indistinct spoken words.
- clamor: Clamor is a loud and confused noise, especially that of people shouting vehemently.
Commonly confused with
- mumble: Mumble implies poor pronunciation and lack of clarity, whereas murmur is a soft, continuous, and often pleasant sound.
Word family
- murmuring (noun): A low, continuous sound or grumbling.
Collocations
- gentle murmur
- murmur of approval
- murmur of protest
Example sentences
- "The gentle murmur of the brook behind the cabin helped lull the tired travelers to sleep." Describing the soothing sound of nature.
Memory hook
Think of the 'mur-mur' of a distant crowd or a running stream. Murmur sounds like a low, continuous purr.
When not to use
Do not use when the quiet speech is sharp, angry, or entirely unvoiced.
Fun facts
- In medicine, a 'heart murmur' is an unusual sound heard between heartbeats, resembling a quiet, blowing sound.
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