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Murmur vs Shout - What's the difference?

murmur | shout |

As nouns the difference between murmur and shout

is that murmur is (countable) low or indistinct sounds or speech while shout is a loud burst of voice or voices; a vehement and sudden outcry, especially that of a multitude expressing joy, triumph, exultation, or animated courage.

As verbs the difference between murmur and shout

is that murmur is while shout is to utter a sudden and loud outcry, as in joy, triumph, or exultation, or to attract attention, to animate soldiers, etc.

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

    shout

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A loud burst of voice or voices; a vehement and sudden outcry, especially that of a multitude expressing joy, triumph, exultation, or animated courage.
  • (UK, Australia, New Zealand, slang) A round of drinks in a pub; the turn to pay the shot or scot; an act of paying for a round of drinks.
  • * 1984 , , page 290,
  • “I?ll get my wine though,” taking out her wallet.
    “No. This is my shout ,” holding up his hand as though to ward her money off.
  • * 2006 , (Lily Allen), Knock 'Em Out
  • Cut to the pub on a lads night out,
    Man at the bar cos it was his shout
  • * 2008 , George Papaellinas, The Trip: An Odyssey , re.press, Australia, page 6,
  • It was always my shout down the pub with Theo.
  • (UK, Australia, jargon, slang) A call-out for an emergency services team.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To utter a sudden and loud outcry, as in joy, triumph, or exultation, or to attract attention, to animate soldiers, etc.
  • * '', Act I, Scene II, 1797, George Steevens (editor), ''The Plays of William Shakespeare , Volume 7, page 15,
  • They ?houted thrice; what was the la?t cry for?
  • To utter with a shout; to cry; -- sometimes with out; as, to shout, or to shout out, a man's name.
  • (obsolete) To treat with shouts or clamor.
  • (Bishop Hall)
  • (colloquial) To pay for food, drink or entertainment for others.
  • I?ll shout you all a drink.
    He?s shouting us all to the opening night of the play.
  • * 1999 , Peter Moore, The Wrong Way Home: London to Sydney the Hard Way , page 301,
  • After shouting me a plate of noodles and limp vegetables, he helped me change money by introducing me to the stallholder who offered the best exchange rates.
  • * 2003 , Peter Watt, To Chase the Storm , Pan MacMillan Australia, unnumbered page,
  • ‘I have not seen my cousin Patrick in years,’ Martin answered defensively. ‘I doubt that, considering the way our lives have gone, an officer of the King?s army would be shouting me a drink in Mr O?Riley?s pub these days.’
  • * 2005 , George G. Spearing, Dances with Marmots: A Pacific Crest Trail Adventure , page 32,
  • Anyhow, he obviously bore no grudge against Kiwis, for he shouted me a beer and opened another one for himself, punctuating the operation with a spectacular and resounding fart that by all the laws of physical science should have left his trousers flapping in smouldering shreds.
  • * 2010 , Ivan Dunn, The Legend of Beau Baxter , HarperCollins Publishers, New Zealand, unnumbered page,
  • Truth is, I notice the other blokes who have been shouting me nodding among themselves and thinking they?d better get in the queue if I am buying. Not likely. I am out of there.
  • (Internet) To post a text message (for example, email) in upper case.
  • Please don't shout in the chat room.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * shout down * shout out

    See also

    * (l)