RUMOR

rumor, rumour, hearsay

(noun) gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth

rumor, rumour, bruit

(verb) tell or spread rumors; “It was rumored that the next president would be a woman”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

rumor (countable and uncountable, plural rumors)

(American spelling, countable) A statement or claim of questionable accuracy, from no known reliable source, usually spread by word of mouth.

(American spelling, uncountable) Information or misinformation of the kind contained in such claims.

Synonyms

• (piece of information)

• (information): gossip, hearsay, talk, tittle-tattle

Hypernyms

• information

Verb

rumor (third-person singular simple present rumors, present participle rumoring, simple past and past participle rumored)

(transitive, usually, used in the passive voice) To tell a rumor about; to gossip.

Source: Wiktionary

Ru"mor, n. Etym: [F. rumeur, L. rumor; cf. rumificare, rumitare to rumor, Skr. ru to cry.] [Written also rumour.]

1. A flying or popular report; the common talk; hence, public fame; notoriety. This rumor of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about. Luke vii. 17. Great is the rumor of this dreadful knight. Shak.

2. A current story passing from one person to another, without any known authority for its truth; -- in this sense often personified. Rumor next, and Chance, And Tumult, and Confusion, all embroiled. Milton.

3. A prolonged; indistinct noise. [Obs.] Shak.

Ru"mor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rumored; p. pr. & vb. n. Rumoring.]

Definition: To report by rumor; to tell. 'T was rumored My father 'scaped from out the citadel. Dryden.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition