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# murmur

noun (a murmur, murmurs); verb (murmur, murmurs, murmured, murmuring)

«murmur» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A soft, low sound of voices, or of water, wind or bees, that goes on and on. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmur/#m1)
2. (verb) To say something very quietly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmur/#m2)
3. A quiet complaint: «They paid without a murmur.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmur/#m3)
4. (medicine) A heart murmur is an extra sound a doctor hears in the heartbeat; many are harmless. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmur/#m4)

### In the lessons

In stories, a murmur sets a quiet, gentle mood, or shows a crowd reacting: «a murmur of surprise ran round the room». In The Wind in the Willows, the river murmurs and the reeds whisper. Phrases: «without a murmur» (without complaining), «a murmur of agreement».

### Examples

- A murmur of excitement ran through the audience. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmur/#x1)
- «Goodnight,» she murmured sleepily. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmur/#x2)
- We heard the murmur of the stream. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmur/#x3)
- He did his chores without a murmur. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmur/#x4)
- The doctor heard a small heart murmur, but said it was nothing to worry about. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmur/#x5)
- The murmur of bees filled the garden. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmur/#x6)
- “Tell on, my love,” Finnian murmured [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmur/#x7)

### Note

Spelling: m-u-r-m-u-r; past murmured, -ing murmuring (no double r). Similar: mutter (grumbly), whisper (with breath), mumble (unclear).

## In Jewish tradition

The people's grumbling about water, food and leaders is seen as complaining against God Himself, not only against Moses.

**Interpretation.** The rabbis see the murmuring as a lack of trust, and it leads to the punishment that the generation does not enter the land.

### Examples

- And the people murmured against Moses, saying: 'What shall we drink?' (Torah EXO.15.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/murmur/#x1)
- And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness; (Torah EXO.16.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/murmur/#x2)
- Therefore thou and all thy company that are gathered together against the LORD — ; and as to Aaron, what is he that ye murmur against him?' (Torah NUM.16.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/murmur/#x3)
- And all the congregation murmured against the princes. (Prophets JOS.9.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/murmur/#x4)
- And they murmured in their tents, they hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD. (Writings PSA.106.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/murmur/#x5)
- They also that err in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmur shall learn instruction. (Prophets ISA.29.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/murmur/#x6)

### Note

Spelling: m-u-r-m-u-r; past murmured, -ing murmuring (no double r). Similar: mutter (grumbly), whisper (with breath), mumble (unclear).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «murmur» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmur/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«murmur» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/murmur.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «murmur» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/murmur/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«murmur» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/murmur.html) on Mova free.