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Definition of whisper noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

whisper

noun
 
/ˈwɪspə(r)/
 
/ˈwɪspər/
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  1. a low, quiet voice or the sound it makes synonym murmur
    • in a whisper ‘I love you,’ he said in a whisper.
    • in whispers They spoke in whispers.
    • above a whisper ‘I feel the same way,’ he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
    • Her voice dropped to a whisper.
    see also stage whisper
    Extra Examples
    • A barely audible whisper came from the closet.
    • Their voices were very quiet, hardly above a whisper.
    • They spoke in barely audible whispers.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • barely audible
    • the barest
    • faint
    verb + whisper
    • hear
    preposition
    • above a whisper
    • in a whisper
    See full entry
  2. (also whispering)
    (literary) a soft sound synonym murmur
    • I could hear the whispering of the sea.
  3. a piece of news that is spread by being talked about but may not be true synonym rumour
    • I've heard whispers that he's leaving.
    • If the whispers are to be believed, the two companies are talking about a merger.
  4. Word OriginOld English hwisprian, of Germanic origin; related to German wispeln, from the imitative base of whistle.
See whisper in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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