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Whisper vs Undertone - What's the difference?

whisper | undertone |

As nouns the difference between whisper and undertone

is that whisper is the act of speaking in a quiet voice, especially, without vibration of the vocal cords while undertone is an auditory tone of low pitch or volume.

As a verb whisper

is to speak softly, or under the breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter words without sonant breath; to talk without that vibration in the larynx which gives sonorous, or vocal, sound.

whisper

English

Noun

(Whispering) (en noun)
  • The act of speaking in a quiet voice, especially, without vibration of the vocal cords.
  • * 1883 , :
  • "Now, look here, Jim Hawkins," he said, in a steady whisper , that was no more than audible.
  • (usually in plural) A rumor.
  • There are whispers of rebellion all around.
  • (figurative) A faint trace or hint (of something).
  • The soup had just a whisper of basil.
  • (internet) A private message to an individual in a chat room.
  • * 2002 , Ralph Schroeder, The Social Life of Avatars (page 218)
  • The invisibility of private interactions in the form of whispers resolved an ethical concern in the research but reduced our ability to gauge the volume of interaction
  • * 2004 , Caroline A. Haythornthwaite, Michelle M. Kazmer, Learning, Culture and Community in Online Education (page 179)
  • Anyone logged in to the chat room can click on an individual name, highlighting it, and send a message — a whisper — that will be seen only by the selected person.

    Derived terms

    * stage whisper * whisper campaign

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To speak softly, or under the breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter words without sonant breath; to talk without that vibration in the larynx which gives sonorous, or vocal, sound.
  • To mention privately and confidentially, or in a whisper.
  • * Bentley
  • They might buzz and whisper it one to another.
  • To make a low, sibilant sound.
  • * Thomson
  • the hollow, whispering breeze
  • To speak with suspicion or timorous caution; to converse in whispers, as in secret plotting.
  • * Bible, Psalms xli. 7
  • All that hate me whisper together against me.
  • (obsolete) To address in a whisper, or low voice.
  • * Shakespeare
  • and whisper one another in the ear
  • * Keble
  • where gentlest breezes whisper souls distressed
  • (obsolete) To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform privately.
  • * Shakespeare
  • He came to whisper Wolsey.

    undertone

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • an auditory tone of low pitch or volume
  • an implicit message perceived subtly alongside, but not detracting noticeably from, the explicit message conveyed in or by a book, film, verbal dialogue or similar (contrast with overtone); an undercurrent
  • a pale colour, or one seen underneath another colour