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Mutter vs Whine - What's the difference?

mutter | whine | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between mutter and whine

is that mutter is a repressed or obscure utterance; an instance of muttering while whine is a long-drawn, high-pitched complaining cry or sound.

As verbs the difference between mutter and whine

is that mutter is to utter words, especially complaints or angry expressions, indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; to say under one's breath while whine is to utter a high-pitched cry.

mutter

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A repressed or obscure utterance; an instance of muttering.
  • The prisoners were docile, and accepted their lot with barely a mutter .
  • (in Indian restaurants) peas
  • Derived terms

    * mutter paneer

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To utter words, especially complaints or angry expressions, indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; to say under one's breath.
  • You could hear the students mutter as they were served sodden spaghetti, yet again, in the cafeteria.
    The beggar muttered words of thanks, as passersby dropped coins in his cup.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=June 28 , author=Jamie Jackson , title=Wimbledon 2012: Lukas Rosol shocked by miracle win over Rafael Nadal , work=the Guardian citation , page= , passage=This set – the set of Rosol's life – was studded with aces and menacing ground-strokes that left Nadal an impotent spectator often muttering to himself and at the umpire regarding a perceived misdemeanour by his opponent.}}
  • To speak softly and incoherently, or with imperfect articulations.
  • The asylum inmate muttered some doggerel about chains and pains to himself, over and over.
  • * Dryden
  • Meantime your filthy foreigner will stare, / And mutter to himself.
  • To make a sound with a low, rumbling noise.
  • April could hear the delivery van's engine muttering in the driveway.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Thick lightnings flash, the muttering thunder rolls.

    Synonyms

    * (sense, speak under one's breath) growl, grumble, mumble * (speak incoherently) babble, mumble, murmur, ramble, stutter * (make a low sound) growl, putter, rumble * See also

    whine

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • a long-drawn, high-pitched complaining cry or sound
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=June 26 , author=Genevieve Koski , title=Music: Reviews: Justin Bieber: Believe , work=The Onion AV Club citation , page= , passage=The 18-year-old Bieber can’t quite pull off the “adult” thing just yet: His voice may have dropped a bit since the days of “Baby,” but it still mostly registers as “angelic,” and veers toward a pubescent whine at times. }}
  • a complaint or criticism
  • Verb

    (whin)
  • To utter a high-pitched cry.
  • To make a sound resembling such a cry.
  • The jet engines whined at take off.
  • To complain or protest with a whine or as if with a whine.
  • To move with a whining sound.
  • The jet whined into the air.
  • To utter with the sound of a whine.
  • The child whined all his complaints.
    Kelly Queen was whining that the boss made him put on his tie.

    Synonyms

    * See also