mumble
verb
- speak unclearly
noun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L324258 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈmʌmbəl/ / /ˈmʊmbəl/
noun
Etymology: From Middle English momelen, a frequentative of mum (sense 3) (“silent”). Compare German mümmeln, Middle Dutch mommelen and Dutch mompelen. Perhaps related to Norwegian Nynorsk mumpa (“to gum, to chew without teeth”).
- A quiet or unintelligible vocalization; a low tone of voice.
“All I could hear was a mumble from the next room.”
“He spoke in a barely comprehensible mumble.”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English momelen, a frequentative of mum (sense 3) (“silent”). Compare German mümmeln, Middle Dutch mommelen and Dutch mompelen. Perhaps related to Norwegian Nynorsk mumpa (“to gum, to chew without teeth”).
- To speak unintelligibly or inaudibly; to fail to articulate.
“Please try not to mumble so I can hear you better.”
“Peace, you mumbling fool.”
- To chew something gently with closed lips.