whisper

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   The act of speaking in a quiet voice, especially without vibration of the vocal cords

   The act of speaking in a quiet voice, especially without vibration of the vocal cords; the sound thus produced.

   • I spoke in a near whisper.
   • "Now, look here, Jim Hawkins," he said, in a steady whisper, that was no more than audible.
   • You know love is everything you say / A whisper, a word / Promises you give
2. 2

   A rumor.

   • There are whispers of rebellion all around.
   • Time can never mend / The careless whispers of a good friend
3. 3

   A faint trace or hint (of something).

   • The soup had just a whisper of basil.
4. ›+ 13 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A low rustling sound, like that of the wind in leaves.

   2. 5

      A private message to an individual in a chat room.

      • The invisibility of private interactions in the form of whispers resolved an ethical concern in the research but reduced our ability to gauge the volume of interaction […]
      • Anyone logged in to the chat room can click on an individual name, highlighting it, and send a message — a whisper — that will be seen only by the selected person.
   3. 6

      A projection of intention and influence caused by sending thoughts or desires outward…

      A projection of intention and influence caused by sending thoughts or desires outward through softly-spoken words or subtle mental or energetic means.

   4. 7

      To speak softly or under one's breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand

      To speak softly or under one's breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter words without sonant breath; to talk without that vibration of the vocal cords which gives sonorous, or vocal, sound.

      • I can hear them whisper as we pass by It's a bad sign, bad sign
   5. 8

      To say (something) softly or under one's breath, so as to be heard only by one near at…

      To say (something) softly or under one's breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter (something) without sonant breath, without that vibration of the vocal cords which gives sonorous, or vocal, sound.

      • Whether he whispered sweet nothings to her in Stengelese is not known, but he did call her "the best catch I ever made in my career."
   6. 9

      To mention privately and confidentially, or in a whisper.

      • They might buzz and whisper it one to another.
   7. 10

      To make a low, sibilant sound.

      • the hollow, whispering breeze
      • […] hear thy laurel whisper sweet About the ledges of the hill.
   8. 11

      To speak with suspicion or timorous caution

      To speak with suspicion or timorous caution; to converse in whispers, as in secret plotting.

      • All that hate me whisper together against me.
   9. 12

      To address in a whisper, or low voice.

      • and whisper one another in the ear
      • where gentlest breezes whisper souls distressed
   10. 13

       To prompt secretly or cautiously

       To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform privately.

       • He came to whisper Wolsey.
       • [A] simple youth whispered me that he was an Illuminé, and carried on an intercourse with the invisible world.
   11. 14

       To send a private message to an individual in a chat room.

   12. 15

       To exercise skill in taming or training a creature.

   13. 16

       To project intention and influence events by sending thoughts or desires outward through…

       To project intention and influence events by sending thoughts or desires outward through softly-spoken words or subtle mental or energetic means; to subject someone or something to this influence.

       • "Witches feel that anyone who is against them has to be destroyed. The method is to give the victim what we call a whispering. [...] The most frightening this is to be whispered when you're driving a car - it's nerve-racking."

The neighborhood