whispering

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whis·per

(wĭs′pər, hwĭs′-)

1. Soft speech produced without using the full voice.

2. Something uttered very softly: overheard his whisper.

3. A secretly or surreptitiously expressed belief, rumor, or hint: whispers of scandal.

4. A low rustling sound: the whisper of wind in the pines.

v. whis·pered, whis·per·ing, whis·pers

v.intr.

1. To speak softly.

2. To speak quietly and privately, as by way of gossip, slander, or intrigue.

3. To make a soft rustling sound.

v.tr.

1. To utter very softly.

2. To say or tell privately or secretly.

[From Middle English whisperen, to whisper, from Old English hwisprian.]

whis′per·er n.

whis′per·y adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

whispering

(ˈwɪspərɪŋ)

1. the act of speaking in a low soft voice

2. the act of uttering or suggesting something secretly or privately

3. a low soft rustling sound

adj

4. (of a voice) low and soft

5. making a low soft rustling sound

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

whis•per•ing

(ˈʰwɪs pər ɪŋ, ˈwɪs-)

n.

1. whispered talk or conversation.

2. rumor or gossip.

3. a whispered sound.

adj.

4. making a sound like a whisper.

5. like a whisper.

6. gossipy.

7. conversing in whispers.

[before 1000]

whis′per•ing•ly, adv.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	whispering - a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind rustle, rustling, whisper noise - sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound); "he enjoyed the street noises"; "they heard indistinct noises of people talking"; "during the firework display that ended the gala the noise reached 98 decibels"
	2.	whispering - speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords whisper, susurration, voicelessness speaking, speech production - the utterance of intelligible speech stage whisper - a loud whisper that can be overheard; on the stage it is heard by the audience but it supposed to be inaudible to the rest of the cast
Adj.	1.	whispering - making a low continuous indistinct sound; "like murmuring waves"; "susurrant voices" murmuring, susurrant soft - (of sound) relatively low in volume; "soft voices"; "soft music"

Translations

whispering

[ˈwɪspərɪŋ]

A. N

1. (= talking) → cuchicheo m; [of leaves] → susurro m

2. (= gossip) → chismes mpl, chismografía f; (= rumours) → rumores mpl

B. CPD whispering campaign N → campaña f de murmuraciones

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

whispering

[ˈ^hwɪspərɪŋ] n → chuchotements mpl

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

whispering

n → Geflüster nt no pl, → Flüstern nt no pl; (poet: of wind) → Säuseln nt no pl; (of schoolchildren) → Tuscheln nt no pl, → Getuschel nt no pl; (fig) → Gemunkel nt no pl, → Getuschel nt no pl

whispering

whispering campaign

n → Verleumdungskampagne f

whispering gallery

n → Flüstergewölbe nt → or -galerie f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

whispering

[ˈwɪsp/ərɪŋ] n → bisbiglio; (of leaves) → fruscio
there's been a lot of whispering about her → sono corse parecchie voci sul suo conto

References in classic literature ?

The whispering awakened Virginia and she lay wondering what the cause of the midnight conference might be, for she recognized that one of the speakers was a man, and there had been no man in the apartment when she had gone to sleep earlier in the night.

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Later in the afternoon we had a cautious try at whispering. The Sunday quietness of the ship was against us; the stillness of air and water around her was against us; the elements, the men were against us--everything was against us in our secret partnership; time itself--for this could not go on forever.

He was out of breath with whispering; I could hear him pant slightly.

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"You have got something against my Natalie," he burst out; "I know it by your whispering, I see it in your looks!

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There were shouts on the pavement, people ran forward, the driver pulled up, whispering curses of indignation and astonishment.

They sat motionless and scared in the profound stillness, till the door came open, and a rough, strained whispering was heard:

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I heard him in the bushes here and there, whispering, whispering.

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However, instead of whispering, he simply shouted at the top of his voice 'They're at it again!'

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They looked kindly on the child, and, after whispering long among themselves, two little bright-eyed Elves flew over the shining water, and, lighting on the clover-blossoms, said gently, "Little maiden, many thanks for your kindness; and our Queen bids us ask if you will go with us to Fairy-Land, and learn what we can teach you."

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The greater part of the guests had gone to bed as soon as the eating and drinking were over; and we, who had remained whispering and listening half-undressed, at last betook ourselves to bed, too.

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"It was more horrible than you know," she continued, dropping her voice a little, almost whispering in his ear.

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Tracy Tupman was established at Emily's side, ogling, whispering, and smiling, in opposition to Mr.