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Glite Dictionary
🐦 A flock of birds 🤫 A quiet sound
murmuration

murmuration

9.6
A soft low sound of many people talking at once
  • noun
  • /ˌmɜːrməˈreɪʃən/
translation icon : murmullo
  • The murmuration of voices filled the dimly lit library, making it hard to concentrate.

Examples

  • She listened to the murmuration outside her window, unsure whether it was the wind or distant conversation.

  • As the meeting started, a low murmuration of whispers filled the room, indicating the attendees were still discussing their thoughts.

  • A gentle murmuration drifted from the hallway as the guests awaited the ceremony.

  • There was a soft murmuration in the background.

  • The audience's murmuration filled the hall.

  • He enjoyed the murmuration of voices at the café, where people shared ideas and laughter in a cozy atmosphere.

  • The gentle murmuration from the crowd created a calm ambiance before the concert began.

Synonyms

murmur
vsmurmuration
36 4.1

A low, quiet sound made by people speaking softly or by small movements

centres more narrowly on quiet speech rather than other soft sources
mutter
vsmurmuration
18 4.4

A low quiet complaint that people say so others cannot hear

is more neutral and continuous rather than usually being a complaint
murmuring
vsmurmuration
11 3.4

A low continuous sound made by voices or nature

focuses specifically on sounds made by people speaking softly without clear articulation
mumbling
vsmurmuration
6 3.6

Speaking quietly and not clearly so people cannot understand

refers more to the ongoing soft sound than to unclear word pronunciation
muttering
vsmurmuration
3 4.6

A low unclear sound made quietly with the lips

describes the same sound but without stressing silent lip movement
susurration
vsmurmuration
1 9.9

A soft whispering sound like wind in leaves

is more focused on human soft speech without poetic or nature imagery
mussitation
vsmurmuration
  • Archaic
9.9

A low soft sound made by quiet talking without clear words

is about the same quiet sound but not only when lips move visibly

Antonyms

clarity
152 3.0

How easy it is to understand what someone says or writes

loudness
  • Specialized
4 1.8

How strong a sound is when people hear it

How Loud

shout
162 1.0
murmuration
9.6
whisper
110 1.0

Surface Forms

murmuration singular
murmurations plural

Morphology

murmuration = murmur (transparent) = murmur + ation

Formed by the verb/root 'murmur' plus the noun-forming suffix '-ation', yielding a noun meaning 'the act or sound of murmuring', which is directly predictable.

Etymology

Murmuration comes from the simple word murmur, which means 'a low, soft sound'. So a murmuration is a steady, quiet noise like many people speaking softly or a gentle rustle.