/ ˈmɜːmə(r); NAmE ˈmɜːrm-/ verb , noun
■ verb
1.
to say sth in a soft quiet voice that is difficult to hear or understand :
[ vn ]
She murmured her agreement.
He murmured something in his sleep.
[ v ]
She was murmuring in his ear.
[also v speech , v that ]
2.
[ v ] to make a quiet continuous sound :
The wind murmured in the trees.
3.
[ v ] murmur (against sb/sth) ( literary ) to complain about sb/sth, but not openly
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a quietly spoken word or words :
She answered in a faint murmur.
Murmurs of 'Praise God' went around the circle.
2.
[ C ] (also mur·mur·ings [ pl. ]) a quiet expression of feeling :
a murmur of agreement / approval / complaint
He paid the extra cost without a murmur (= without complaining at all) .
polite murmurings of gratitude
3.
(also mur·mur·ing ) [ sing. ] a low continuous sound in the background :
the distant murmur of traffic
4.
[ C ] ( medical ) a faint sound in the chest, usually a sign of damage or disease in the heart :
a heart murmur
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French murmure , from murmurer to murmur, from Latin murmurare , from murmur a murmur.