murmur

Etymology

From Middle English murmur, murmor, murmour, from Old French murmure (modern French murmure), from Latin murmur (“murmur, humming, muttering, roaring, growling, rushing etc.”).

noun

1. (countable, uncountable) Any low, indistinct sound, like that of running water.
   The delightful murmur of water running over pebbles is heard a few yards off 1854, Narrative of a Journey Round the Dead Sea, and in the Bible Lands
   1979: A translation of the Eclogues by Paul Alpers The windy murmur of the breeze subsides.
2. (countable, uncountable) Soft indistinct speech.
   A murmur arose from the audience.
   In the prison of the 'tween decks reigned a darkness pregnant with murmurs. The sentry at the entrance to the hatchway was supposed to "prevent the prisoners from making a noise," but he put a very liberal interpretation upon the clause, and so long as the prisoners refrained from shouting, yelling, and fighting--eccentricities in which they sometimes indulged--he did not disturb them. 1874, Marcus Clarke, chapter V, in For the Term of His Natural Life
   The moment had come for the honeyed word. I lowered my voice to a confidential murmur, but on her inquiring if I had laryngitis raised it again. 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter XI, in Jeeves in the Offing
3. (cardiology, medicine) The sound made by any condition which produces noisy, or turbulent, flow of blood through the heart.
4. A muttered complaint or protest; the expression of dissatisfaction in a low muttering voice; any expression of complaint or discontent.
   In fear of disease and in the interest of his health man will be muzzled and masked like a vicious dog, and that without any murmur of complaint. 1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human Progress
   Since aortic diastolic pressure is higher than pulmonary artery systolic pressure, there is continuous flow into the pulmonary circulation, creating the characteristic continuous ("machinery") murmur, heard best just below the left clavicle. 2004, Euan A. Ashley, Josef Niebauer, Cardiology Explained
   Glossop will return from his afternoon off to find the awful majesty of the Law waiting for him, complete with handcuffs. We can hardly expect him to accept an exemplary sentence without a murmur, so his first move will be to establish his innocence by revealing all. 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter XX, in Jeeves in the Offing

verb

1. (intransitive, now rare) To grumble; to complain in a low, muttering voice, or express discontent at or against someone or something.
   And now, behold thy brothers murmur, saying it is a hard thing which I have required of them; but behold I have not required it of them, but it is a commandment of the Lord. 1830, The Book of Mormon
2. (intransitive) To speak or make low, indistinguishable noise; to mumble, mutter.
   I couldn't hear the words; he just murmured a lot.
   The bees murmured in the forest. The waves murmured on the shore.
   “Oh yes,” he murmured in a tone of obligatory surprise, as he proceeded to make the kind of 2 which he attributed to Margaret's style of chirography. 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 7, in A Cuckoo in the Nest
3. (transitive) To say (something) indistinctly, to mutter.
   With a husky voice she murmured that he was the very dearest grandfather anyone ever had. 1942, Lloyd C. Douglas, chapter 7, in The Robe
   “[…] Don’t look now,” he murmured, lowering his eyes demurely, “but the most handsome man in Brookfield, Connecticut, has just walked in the room.” 1978, Andrew Holleran, chapter 4, in Dancer from the Dance, New York: New American Library, published 1986, page 105