murmurings

Murmurings refers to soft, indistinct sounds or voices, such as distant conversations, rustling leaves, or background ambience. The term is used metaphorically to describe quiet, persistent, low-frequency noise that is not clearly audible.

In medicine, a murmur is a sound heard during auscultation caused by turbulent blood flow. Cardiac murmurs can be innocent or indicate heart valve disease or other conditions. They are described by timing (systolic or diastolic), quality, pitch, intensity, and where they are loudest on the chest. Evaluation includes physical exam and often echocardiography.

In literature and everyday speech, murmurings denotes muttered or whispered speech, private opinions, or rumors circulating among a group. The word conveys secrecy, hesitation, or subdued emotion.

Etymology: murmur derives from Latin murmurare, into Old French murmure, later English murmur. The plural murmurings denotes multiple instances of murmur or murmuring.

Related terms and notes: Murmuration is a separate term describing the murmuring-like collective flight of starlings or other birds, not to be confused with human murmurs. The noun murmur can also appear as a verb.