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Murmur vs Chime - What's the difference?

murmur | chime |

As nouns the difference between murmur and chime

is that murmur is (countable) low or indistinct sounds or speech while chime is (musical instruments) a musical instrument producing a sound when struck, similar to a bell (eg a tubular metal bar) or actually a bell often used in the plural to refer to the set: the chimes or chime can be a chine; the edge of a cask.

As verbs the difference between murmur and chime

is that murmur is while chime is to make the sound of a chime.

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

    chime

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) cymbalum'' (perhaps via (etyl) ''chimbe ).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (musical instruments) A musical instrument producing a sound when struck, similar to a bell (e.g. a tubular metal bar) or actually a bell. Often used in the plural to refer to the set: the chimes .
  • Sylvia had a recording of someone playing the chimes against a background of surf noise that she found calming.
    Hugo was a chime player in the school orchestra.
  • An individual ringing component of such a set.
  • Peter removed the C
  • chime from its mounting so that he could get at the dust that had accumulated underneath.
  • A small bell or other ringing or tone-making device as a component of some other device.
  • The professor had stuffed a wad of gum into the chime of his doorbell so that he wouldn't be bothered.
  • The sound of such an instrument or device.
  • The copier gave a chime to indicate that it had finished printing.
  • A small hammer or other device used to strike a bell.
  • Strike the bell with the brass chime hanging on the chain next to it.
    Derived terms
    * chimist
    Synonyms
    (Synonyms) * alarm * bell * buzz * buzzer * carillon * clapper * curfew * dinger * ding-dong * gong * peal * ringer * siren * tintinnabulum * tocsin * toll * vesper

    Verb

    (chim)
  • To make the sound of a chime.
  • The microwave chimed to indicate that it was done cooking.
    I got up for lunch as soon as the wall clock began chiming noon.
  • To cause to sound in harmony; to play a tune, as upon a set of bells; to move or strike in harmony.
  • * Dryden
  • And chime their sounding hammers.
  • To utter harmoniously; to recite rhythmically.
  • * Byron
  • Chime his childish verse.
  • To agree; to correspond.
  • The other lab's results chimed with mine, so I knew we were on the right track with the research.
  • * Washington Irving
  • Everything chimed in with such a humor.
  • To make a rude correspondence of sounds; to jingle, as in rhyming.
  • (Cowley)

    Derived terms

    * chime in, chime up

    Etymology 2

    See chimb.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A chine; the edge of a cask.
  • (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

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