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Muffle vs Mumble - What's the difference?

muffle | mumble |

As nouns the difference between muffle and mumble

is that muffle is anything that mutes or deadens sound while mumble is a quiet or unintelligible vocalization.

As verbs the difference between muffle and mumble

is that muffle is to wrap (a person, face etc.) in fabric or another covering, for warmth or protection; often with up while mumble is to speak unintelligibly or inaudibly; to fail to articulate.

muffle

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Anything that mutes or deadens sound.
  • A warm piece of clothing for the hands.
  • A kiln or furnace, often electric, with no direct flames (a muffle furnace)
  • The bare end of the nose between the nostrils, especially in ruminants.

    • Verb

    (muffl)
  • To wrap (a person, face etc.) in fabric or another covering, for warmth or protection; often with up .
  • * Addison
    • The face lies muffled up within the garment.
  • * Dryden
    • He muffled with a cloud his mournful eyes.
  • * Arbuthnot
    • muffled up in darkness and superstition
  • To wrap up or cover (a source of noise) in order to deaden the sound.
    • to muffle the strings of a drum, or that part of an oar which rests in the rowlock
  • To mute or deaden (a sound etc.).
  • * 1999 , (George RR Martin), A Clash of Kings , Bantam 2011, p. 397:
    • The singer's voice was muffled by the thick walls, yet Tyrion knew the verse.
  • (dated) To speak indistinctly, or without clear articulation.
  • (dated) To prevent seeing, or hearing, or speaking, by wraps bound about the head; to blindfold; to deafen.

    • mumble

    English

    Verb

  • (intransitive) To speak unintelligibly or inaudibly; to fail to articulate.
    • Please try not to mumble so I can hear you better.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Peace, you mumbling fool.
  • * Otway
    • A wrinkled hag, with age grown double, / Picking dry sticks, and mumbling to herself.
  • To chew something gently with closed lips.

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * mumblage * mumblecore * mumblenews * mumbler * mumblety peg

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A quiet or unintelligible vocalization.
    • All I could hear was a mumble from the next room.
  • A low tone of voice.
    • ''He spoke in a mumble .