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REFERENCE

whisper

v. · n.
US //ˈhwɪspɝ// UK //wˈɪspɐ// whis·per
  1. 1 to speak quietly (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to speak very softly using your breath so that only someone close to you can hear.

    to utter words without vibration of the vocal cords, typically to maintain secrecy or avoid disturbing others.

    Example

    She leaned over to whisper the secret into her friend's ear during the movie.

    Example

    The witnesses began to whisper among themselves as the judge entered the room, creating a low hum of anxious conversation.
  2. 2 to send a private message (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Computing

    to send a private message to one person in a public chat room.

    to transmit a private digital message to a specific user within a multi-user chat environment.

    Example

    If you have a question about the rules, just whisper the moderator.

    Example

    The streamer asked viewers to whisper their technical issues to the support bot rather than flooding the main chat.
    • DM
    • PM
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  1. 3 a quiet voice (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the act of speaking quietly or the quiet sound itself.

    the act or sound of speaking without sonant breath.

    Example

    They spoke in a whisper so they wouldn't wake the sleeping baby.

    Example

    The conversation dropped to a whisper as they approached the library's restricted archives.
  2. 4 a rumor (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a secret piece of news or a rumor that people are talking about privately.

    a widely circulated rumor or report, often implying secrecy or lack of official confirmation.

    Example

    There are whispers that the company might close its local office next year.

    Example

    Despite official denials, whispers of a hostile takeover continued to circulate throughout the financial district.

    Usage

    Often used in the plural form 'whispers'.
  3. 5 a soft sound (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    a very quiet, rustling sound like wind in the trees.

    a low, sibilant sound reminiscent of quiet speech, often produced by natural elements.

    Example

    The only sound in the forest was the soft whisper of the wind through the pines.

    Example

    The distant whisper of the waves against the shore provided a rhythmic backdrop to the quiet evening.
  4. 6 a tiny amount (n.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    a very small amount or a slight trace of something.

    a faint trace, hint, or slight suggestion of a quality or substance.

    Example

    The soup was good, but it needed just a whisper of salt to be perfect.

    Example

    The old house still held a whisper of the original owner's perfume, lingering faintly in the velvet curtains.
Origin

From Middle English whisperen, from Old English hwisprian (“to mutter, murmur, whisper”), from Proto-West Germanic hwisprōn, from Proto-Germanic hwisprōną (“to hiss, whistle, whisper”), from Proto-Indo-European ḱweys-, ḱwey- (“to hiss, whistle, whisper”). Cognate with Dutch wisperen (“to whisper”), German wispern (“to mumble, whisper”). Related also to Danish hviske (“to whisper”), Icelandic hvískra (“to whisper”), Norwegian Bokmål hviske, kviskre (“to whisper”), Norwegian Nynorsk kviskre, kviskra (“to whisper”), Swedish viska (“to whisper”). More at English whistle.

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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