WHISPERING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does whispering mean? 

• WHISPERING (noun)
  The noun WHISPERING has 2 senses:

1. a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind

2. speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords

  Familiarity information: WHISPERING used as a noun is rare.

• WHISPERING (adjective)
  The adjective WHISPERING has 1 sense:

1. making a low continuous indistinct sound

  Familiarity information: WHISPERING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WHISPERING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

rustle; rustling; whisper; whispering

Hypernyms ("whispering" is a kind of...):

noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

susurration; voicelessness; whisper; whispering

Hypernyms ("whispering" is a kind of...):

speaking; speech production (the utterance of intelligible speech)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "whispering"):

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)

Derivation:

whisper (speak softly; in a low voice)

• WHISPERING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Making a low continuous indistinct sound

Synonyms:

murmuring; susurrant; whispering

Context example:

susurrant voices

Similar:

soft ((of sound) relatively low in volume)

 Context examples 

Of their whispering, as we pass, what a youthful couple we are, and what a pretty little wife she is.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

While they were speaking, a whispering between her father and Elizabeth caught her ear.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Mothers are the best lovers in the world, but I don't mind whispering to Marmee that I'd like to try all kinds.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

But what is all this whispering about?

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Sarah came back with her; they both went to bed; they were whispering together for half-an-hour before they fell asleep.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

A number of people were moving quietly about, forming into groups and whispering to each other.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Emma took the opportunity of whispering, You speak too plain.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He stood by her, however, for some minutes, in silence; and, at last, on the young lady's whispering to Elizabeth again, he walked away.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

His looks were not quite friendly, and I was so revolted at these constant changes that I could not forbear whispering, “So you've changed sides again.”

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I am anxious, and it soothes me to express myself here; it is like whispering to one's self and listening at the same time.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)