51Թ

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whisper

[hwis-per, wis-per]

verb (used without object)

  1. to speak with soft, hushed sounds, using the breath, lips, etc., but with no vibration of the vocal cords.

  2. Phonetics.to produce utterance substituting breath for phonation.

  3. to talk softly and privately (often implying gossip, slander, plotting, or the like).

    The king knew that the courtiers were whispering.

  4. (of trees, water, breezes, etc.) to make a soft, rustling sound like that of whispering.



verb (used with object)

  1. to utter with soft, low sounds, using the breath, lips, etc..

    He whispered endearments to her.

  2. Phonetics.to utter (speech sounds) substituting breath for phonation.

  3. to say or tell in a whisper; tell privately.

  4. to speak to or tell (a person) in a whisper or privately.

noun

  1. the mode of utterance, or the voice, of a person who whispers.

    to speak in a whisper.

  2. a word or remark uttered by whispering.

  3. a rumor or insinuation.

    Whispers circulated about the affair.

  4. a soft, rustling sound like a whisper.

    the whisper of leaves in the wind.

whisper

/ ˈɪə /

verb

  1. to speak or utter (something) in a soft hushed tone, esp without vibration of the vocal cords

  2. (intr) to speak secretly or furtively, as in promoting intrigue, gossip, etc

  3. (intr) (of leaves, trees, etc) to make a low soft rustling sound

  4. (tr) to utter or suggest secretly or privately

    to whisper treason

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a low soft voice

    to speak in a whisper

  2. something uttered in such a voice

  3. a low soft rustling sound

  4. a trace or suspicion

  5. informala rumour or secret

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of whisper1

First recorded before 950; Middle English whisperen (verb), Old English hwisprian; akin to German wispern, Old Norse hviskra, ī “to whistle”; whine
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of whisper1

Old English hwisprian; related to Old Norse ī, Old High German ɾ貹ō, Dutch wispern
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Idioms and Phrases

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

They’re the ones that whisper instead of shout, that make their case quietly, with warmth and confidence and just a hint of seduction.

From

"Instead of holding my wife’s hand in the delivery room, I was crouched on a detention center floor, whispering through a crackling phone line as she labored alone," Khalil wrote.

From

One day, any of us could be in their position, whispers this fantasy, and who is to say we’d behave any differently?

From

Villarreal: What was the initial reaction — the rumblings or whispers you heard — from within the dance community when they heard you were making the show?

From

"Watch the courts" was the whispered message a well-connected diplomat told me in Washington DC last month, amid the previous episode of US tariff chaos.

From

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