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Purr vs Mumble - What's the difference?

purr | mumble |

As verbs the difference between purr and mumble

is that purr is of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in its throat when contented while mumble is (intransitive) to speak unintelligibly or inaudibly; to fail to articulate.

As nouns the difference between purr and mumble

is that purr is the vibrating sound made by a cat in its throat when contented while mumble is a quiet or unintelligible vocalization.

purr

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • Of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in its throat when contented.
  • To say (something) in a throaty, seductive manner.
  • * 2008 , C. E. Osborne, Black Gold Death in the Sun (page 12)
    • "This is Cindy," she purred again, flashing a smile of perfect white teeth surrounded by full red lips.
  • To make a vibrating throaty sound, as from pleasure.
  • (of an engine) To make a low and consistent rumbling sound.
  • * 2001 , E. C. Craver, Last Reunion (page 159)
    • Beverly passed the city limits sign with the Porsche's motor purring contentedly after its two hundred and fifty-mile romp.

    Derived terms

    * purrer * purr like a kitten

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The vibrating sound made by a cat in its throat when contented.
  • * 1918 , Sarath Kumar Ghosh, The wonders of the jungle - Volume 2 (page 113)
    • Instead, the tiger looked around, and gave a purr , and then a growl. What did that mean? The man could not tell. Then the tiger just flung upon the man some of the sand from the side of the hollow.
  • A throaty, seductive sound of pleasure made by a person.
  • * 2006 , Brenda Williamson, Wolverton Blood (page 53)
    • The trill of her purr echoed inside his mouth when he kissed her again. Clutching at his shirt, her fingers traveled the muscles in his back.
  • The low consistent rumble made by an engine at slow speed
  • * 1997 , Susan Wood, A Fly in Amber (page 191)
    • I sat still in the car and listened to the soft purr of the engine and my beating heart. Then slowly, and as silently as possible, I drove the car back to camp.

    Derived terms

    * purrlike

    See also

    * meow English onomatopoeias

    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 .