MURMUR

grumble, grumbling, murmur, murmuring, mutter, muttering

(noun) a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone

mutter, muttering, murmur, murmuring, murmuration, mussitation

(noun) a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech

murmur, mutter, grumble, croak, gnarl

(verb) make complaining remarks or noises under one’s breath; “she grumbles when she feels overworked”

murmur

(verb) speak softly or indistinctly; “She murmured softly to the baby in her arms”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

murmur (countable and uncountable, plural murmurs)

(countable, uncountable) Any low, indistinct sound, like that of running water.

(countable, uncountable) Soft indistinct speech.

(cardiology, medicine) The sound made by any condition which produces noisy, or turbulent, flow of blood through the heart.

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

Verb

murmur (third-person singular simple present murmurs, present participle murmuring, simple past and past participle murmured)

(intransitive, now rare) To grumble; to complain in a low, muttering voice, or express discontent at or against someone or something. [from 14th c.]

(intransitive) To speak or make low, indistinguishable noise; to mumble, mutter. [from 14th c.]

(transitive) To say (something) indistinctly, to mutter. [from 15th c.]

Synonyms

• See also mutter

Source: Wiktionary

Mur"mur, n. Etym: [F. murmure: cf. L. murmur. CF. Murmur, v. i.]

1. A low, confused, and indistinct sound, like that of running water.

2. A complaint half suppressed, or uttered in a low, muttering voice. Chaucer. Some discontents there are, some idle murmurs. Dryden.

Mur"mur, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Murmured; p. pr. & vb. n. Murmuring.] Etym: [F. murmurer, L. murmurare, murmurari, fr. murmur murmur; cf. Gr.marmara a rustling sound; prob. of imitative origin.]

1. To make a low continued noise, like the hum of bees, a stream of water, distant waves, or the wind in a forest. They murmured as doth a swarm of bees. Chaucer.

2. To utter complaints in a low, half-articulated voice; to feel or express dissatisfaction or discontent; to grumble; -- often with at or against. "His disciples murmured at it." John vi. 61. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron. Num. xiv. 2. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured. 1 Cor. x. 10.

Mur"mur, v. t.

Definition: To utter or give forth in low or indistinct words or sounds; as, to murmur tales. Shak. The people murmured such things concerning him. John vii. 32.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition