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to susurrate

to susurrate

9.9
To make a soft whispering or rustling sound like leaves
  • verb
  • /səˈsɜːrəˌteɪt/
  • Literature
translation icon : susurrar
  • As she read the poem aloud, her voice susurrated softly, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

Examples

  • This steady old bay Stonewall Jackson bestirs himself with the thud, clank, and murmur of horses and men, with this wind susurrating the copse of sandy pine.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • While falling for the Chief's favorite daughter in the forest, John Smith susurrates, "Love."

    Blog text (13)
  • Susurrating.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • [ship horn blows] - [waves susurrating] - [seagulls cawing]

  • [music turns pensive, then fades] - [seagulls squawking] - [waves susurrating] - [car horns honking] - [sirens wailing]

  • The leaves on the trees began to susurrate as the gentle breeze moved through the forest.

  • Under the moonlight, the river susurrated a calming lullaby that soothed all who listened.

Synonyms

to murmur
vsto susurrate
11 4.2

To speak in a low, quiet voice, often to complain or say something softly

is about producing soft natural whispering or rustling sounds rather than speaking
to whisper through
vsto susurrate
  • Literature
1 4.2

A soft quiet sound that moves through things like wind in grass

is the general act of making a soft whispering sound rather than motion through something
to sough
vsto susurrate
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A soft, low sighing sound made by wind or water

is the general verb for any soft whispering or rustling noise
soughing
vsto susurrate
  • Archaic
9.9

A soft rustling sound that wind makes in trees or leaves

is any soft whispering or rustling noise not limited to wind or trees
rustling
vsto susurrate
3.4

Making a soft sound like leaves when they move

is the wider term for any soft whispering sound beyond leaves or paper
murmuring
vsto susurrate
4.7

Making a low continuous sound like soft voices or gentle waves

is more about short whispering or rustling than long continuous sound

How Soft

to susurrate
  • Literature
9.9
to whisper
586 1.0

Surface Forms

susurrate infinitive
susurrated past
susurrated past participle
susurrating present participle
susurrates third person singular

Morphology

susurrate = susurrus (opaque) = susurr + ate

Formed from the rare root 'susurrus' plus the verb-forming suffix '-ate', both elements are uncommon and not helpful for average learners to deduce meaning.

Etymology

Susurrate comes from the Latin susurrare, which means 'to whisper' or 'to murmur'. Think of the soft 's' sound like 'sssss' in a quiet voice or in rustling leaves, and that's why susurrate means to make a soft, whispering or rustling sound.