Definition of "whisper"

whisper

/ˈ(h)wɪspə/

noun
plural whispers
1. The act of speaking in a quiet voice, especially, without vibration of the vocal cords.
  Quotations
  "Now, look here, Jim Hawkins," he said, in a steady whisper, that was no more than audible.
  1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London, Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883
  You know love is everything you say / A whisper, a word / Promises you give
  2005 December 2, “Amarantine”, in Roma Ryan (lyrics), Enya (music), Amarantine, performed by Enya
2. (usually in the plural) A rumor.
3. (figurative) A faint trace or hint (of something).
4. A low rustling sound, like that of the wind in leaves.
5. (Internet) A private message to an individual in a chat room.
  Quotations
  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 […]
  2002, Ralph Schroeder, The Social Life of Avatars, page 218
  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.
  2004, Caroline A. Haythornthwaite, Michelle M. Kazmer, Learning, Culture and Community in Online Education, page 179
verb
third-person singular simple present whispers, present participle whispering, simple past and past participle whispered
1. (intransitive) To speak softly, or under the breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter words without sonant breath; to talk without that vibration in the larynx which gives sonorous, or vocal, sound.
2. (transitive) To mention privately and confidentially, or in a whisper.
  Quotations
  They might buzz and whisper it one to another.
  1692, Richard Bentley, [A Confutation of Atheism] (please specify the sermon), London: [Thomas Parkhurst; Henry Mortlock], published 1692–1693
3. (intransitive) To make a low, sibilant sound.
  Quotations
  the hollow, whispering breeze
  1728, James Thomson, “Spring”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768
4. (intransitive) To speak with suspicion or timorous caution; to converse in whispers, as in secret plotting.
  Quotations
  All that hate me whisper together against me.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Psalms 41:7
5. (transitive, obsolete) To address in a whisper, or low voice.
  Quotations
  and whisper one another in the ear
  c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene ii]
  where gentlest breezes whisper souls distressed
  1827, [John Keble], The Christian Year: Thoughts in Verse for the Sundays and Holydays throughout the Year, volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [B]y W. Baxter, for J. Parker; and C[harles] and J[ohn] Rivington, […]
6. (transitive, obsolete) To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform privately.
  Quotations
  He came to whisper Wolsey.
  1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene ii]

Definition of "whisper"

whisper

noun

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verb

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