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Hum vs Murmur - What's the difference?

hum | murmur |

In intransitive terms the difference between hum and murmur

is that hum is to produce low sounds which blend continuously while murmur is to speak or make low, indistinguishable noise; to mumble, mutter.

In transitive terms the difference between hum and murmur

is that hum is to express by humming while murmur is to say (something) indistinctly, to mutter.

As an interjection hum

is hmm; an inarticulate sound uttered in a pause of speech implying doubt and deliberation.

hum

English

(wikipedia hum)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A hummed tune, i.e. created orally with lips closed.
  • An often indistinct sound resembling human humming.
  • They could hear a hum coming from the kitchen, and found the dishwasher on.
  • * Shakespeare
  • the shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums
  • Busy activity, like the buzz of a beehive.
  • (UK, slang) unpleasant odour.
  • (dated) An imposition or hoax; humbug.
  • (obsolete) A kind of strong drink.
  • (Beaumont and Fletcher)

    Verb

    (humm)
  • To make a sound from the vocal chords without pronouncing any real words, with one's lips closed.
  • We are humming happily along with the music.
  • To express by humming.
  • to hum a tune
    ''The hazers ominously hummed "We shall overcome" while they paddled the unruly pledges
  • To drone like certain insects naturally do in motion, or sounding similarly
  • * 1922 , (Virginia Woolf), (w, Jacob's Room) Chapter 2
  • A slight gloom fell upon the table. Jacob was helping himself to jam; the postman was talking to Rebecca in the kitchen; there was a bee humming at the yellow flower which nodded at the open window.
  • To buzz, be busily active like a beehive
  • 'The streets were humming with activity.''
  • To produce low sounds which blend continuously
  • (British) To reek, smell bad.
  • This room really hums — have you ever tried spring cleaning, mate?
  • (British) To deceive, or impose on one by some story or device.
  • (transitive, dated, slang) To flatter by approving; to cajole; to impose on; to humbug.
  • Derived terms

    * hummer * hummingbird * humming-top

    Synonyms

    * bumble * bustle * hustle * buzz * croon * whir

    Anagrams

    *

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • hmm; an inarticulate sound uttered in a pause of speech implying doubt and deliberation.
  • (Alexander Pope)
    ----

    murmur

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (countable) Low or indistinct sounds or speech.
  • * 1874 , (Marcus Clarke), (For the Term of His Natural Life) , chapter V:
  • 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.
    A murmur arose from the audience.
  • * 1960 , , (Jeeves in the Offing) , chapter XI:
  • 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.
  • (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
  • * 1919 , :
  • 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.
  • * 1960 , , (Jeeves in the Offing) , chapter XX:
  • 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.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • * 1526 , (William Tyndale), trans. Bible , (w) VI:
  • The iewes murmured att itt, because he sayde: I am thatt breed which is come doune from heven.
  • (label) To speak or make low, indistinguishable noise; to mumble, mutter.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)
  • , chapter=7, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=“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.}}
  • (label) To say (something) indistinctly, to mutter.
  • * (William Shakespeare), 1 , II. 3.51
  • Iheard thee murmur tales of iron wars.

    Derived terms

    * murmuration * murmurer * murmuring * murmurless * murmurous

    Synonyms

    * See aslo