whisper

whisper
/hwis"peuhr, wis"peuhr/, v.i.
1. to speak with soft, hushed sounds, using the breath, lips, etc., but with no vibration of the vocal cords.
2. Phonet. 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.
v.t.
5. to utter with soft, low sounds, using the breath, lips, etc.: He whispered endearments to her.
6. Phonet. to utter (speech sounds) substituting breath for phonation.
7. to say or tell in a whisper; tell privately.
8. to speak to or tell (a person) in a whisper or privately.
n.
9. the mode of utterance, or the voice, of a person who whispers: to speak in a whisper.
10. a word or remark uttered by whispering.
11. a rumor or insinuation: Whispers circulated about the affair.
12. a soft, rustling sound like a whisper: the whisper of leaves in the wind.
[bef. 950; ME whisperen (v.), OE hwisprian; c. G wispern; akin to ON hviskra to whisper, hvisla to whistle. See WHINE]

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▪ speech
      speech in which the vocal cords are held rigid, preventing the vibration that produces normal sounds. In whispering, voiceless sounds are produced as usual; but voiced sounds (e.g., vowels) are produced by forcing air through a narrow glottal opening formed by holding the vocal cords rigid and close together. See also voice; vocal fry.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Whisper — may refer to: * whispering, a form of vocalizationIn fiction* Whisper ( Fable ), fictitious character in the popular Fantasy RPG Fable * Whisper, a character created by Ian Fleming in the James Bond novel and film Live and Let Die * Whisper… …   Wikipedia

  • Whisper — Whis per, v. t. [1913 Webster] 1. To utter in a low and nonvocal tone; to say under the breath; hence, to mention privately and confidentially, or in a whisper. [1913 Webster] They might buzz and whisper it one to another. Bentley. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whisper — [hwis′pər, wis′pər] vi. [ME whisperen < OE hwisprian, akin to wispern < IE base * k̑wei , to whiz, hiss > WHINE, WHISTLE] 1. to speak very softly, esp. without the resonance produced by the vibration of the vocal cords 2. to talk quietly …   English World dictionary

  • Whisper — Whis per, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Whispered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Whispering}.] [AS. hwisprian; akin to G. wispern, wispeln, OHG. hwispal?n, Icel. hv[=i]skra, Sw. hviska, Dan. hviske; of imitative origin. Cf. {Whistle}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To speak… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whisper — [n1] rumor; information expressed in soft voice buzz*, confidence, disclosure, divulgence, gossip, hint, hum, hushed tone, innuendo, insinuation, low voice, mumble, murmur, mutter, report, secret, secret message, sigh, sighing, susurration,… …   New thesaurus

  • Whisper — Whis per, n. [1913 Webster] 1. A low, soft, sibilant voice or utterance, which can be heard only by those near at hand; voice or utterance that employs only breath sound without tone, friction against the edges of the vocal cords and arytenoid… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Whisper — conocida en castellano en la Argentina como: Susurros de terror, en España como: Hellion, el ángel caído, en México como: El hijo del diablo y en Venezuela como: Poseído, es una película de suspenso dirigida por Sterward Hendler, en la que parti …   Wikipedia Español

  • WHISPER — index imply, report (rumor), suggestion, tip (clue) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • whisper — (v.) O.E. hwisprian speak very softly (only in a Northumbrian gloss for L. murmurare), from P.Gmc. *khwis (Cf. M.Du. wispelen, O.H.G. hwispalon, Ger. wispeln, wispern, O.N. hviskra to whisper ), imitative and probably related to O.E. hwistlian to …   Etymology dictionary

  • whisper — ► VERB 1) speak very softly using one s breath rather than one s throat. 2) literary rustle or murmur softly. ► NOUN 1) a whispered word or phrase, or a whispering tone of voice. 2) literary a soft rustling or murmuring sound. 3) a rumour or… …   English terms dictionary

  • whisper — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun ADJECTIVE ▪ barely audible, the barest, faint, gentle, hushed, low, mere, quiet, slight (esp. AmE), soft …   Collocations dictionary

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