whisper

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++whis·per1 /ˈwɪspə $ -ər/ ●●● W3 verb  1  [intransitive, transitive]SAY to speak or say something very quietly, using your breath rather than your voice 悄声说；低语；耳语 You don’t have to whisper, no one can hear us. 你不必轻声轻语，没人听得到我们说话。whisper about What are you two whispering about over there? 你们两人在那边嘀咕什么？whisper something to somebody James leaned over to whisper something to Michael. 詹姆斯俯身跟迈克尔低声说了些什么。 ‘I’ve missed you, ’ he whispered in her ear. “我想你了。”他在她耳边低语道。► see thesaurus at say →4  See picture of 见图 whisper2  [transitive]SUGGEST to say or suggest something privately or secretly 私下说[建议]，传说〔某事〕whisper that Staff were whispering that the company was about to go out of business. 员工私下在传，说公司要倒闭了。→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

whisper• Those two always sit in the back of the room and whisper.• Why are you two whispering?• We had to whisper because Jill's mother was in the next room.• ""Don't wake the baby, '' whispered Jemima.• I whispered, quietly yet urgently, that there was a bear nearby.• Fran leant over and whispered something in her sister's ear.• You don't have to whisper - there's no one around.• I heard them whispering to the other sailors several times, but I did not suspect what they were planning.• Repeat, whispering up to eight in an even stream as you breathe out.whisper something to somebody• James leaned over to whisper something to Michael.whisper that• Some officers privately whispered that Combined Fleet Headquarters seemed seriously to underestimate enemy capabilities.• We've been hearing whispers that Dylan might not make the Olympic team.• Most controversial were whispers that Joseph Smith had gone so far in restoring ancient ways that he had reintroduced polygamy.• The other bands whispered that Joseph would now head for Lapwai, abandoning them as Lawyer had done.• She whispered that Klaus told her she must take the message from me after I'd read it.• Some whispered that Miss Monti was a Communist because of her unconventional behavior and radical dress.• Some people were whispering that Miss Moore was a communist.• These whispered that so far all was well.• Another whispered that the policeman was wary, unsure of what to reveal and what to hide.whisper2 ●●● W3 noun [countable]  1  SAYa very quiet voice you make using your breath and no sound 低语；耳语in a whisper ‘Where are we going?’ he asked in a whisper. “我们去哪里？”他低声问道。2  RUMOUR/RUMORa piece of news or information that has not been officially announced and may or may not be true 传闻，谣言 SYN rumourwhisper of The first whisper of the redundancies came from the newspapers. 最早的裁员传闻来自报纸。whisper that There are whispers that the actor was seen checking into a hospital last week. 有传言说上周有人看见这位演员住进了医院。3. a whisper of something literaryCSOUND a low soft sound made by something such as the wind …的沙沙声[飒飒声]〔如风声〕n COLLOCATIONSadjectivesa hoarse whisperHer voice came out as a hoarse whisper.a loud whisper‘Where are you going?’ I said in a loud whisper.a low/soft whisperWhen he spoke, it was in a low whisper.a stage whisper (=a loud whisper that you intend everyone to hear)'What’s going on?' Rory said, in a stage whisper.a hushed whisperThey spoke in the hushed whispers of churchgoers.an urgent whisper‘Daddy!’ he said in an urgent whisper.a fierce whisper‘Let me go!’ she said in a fierce whisper.a conspiratorial whisper (=used when you share a secret with someone)‘Does she suspect anything?’ said Ruth in a conspiratorial whisper.phrasesspeak/talk in whispersThey spoke in quick, urgent whispers.barely/hardly/scarcely above a whisper (=only a little louder than a whisper)'Not me', he said, in a voice barely above a whisper.

Examples from the Corpus

whisper• Throughout presidential history, there have been whispers.• His words ended in a harsh whisper.• The driver conferred in hurried whispers with the men, and we climbed in quickly.• Both spoke to each other in whispers.• Control over the full range from thunderous chords to glittering passage work to a mere whisper of a pianissimo was total.• But Dai Huang was not around to hear their whispers.in a whisper• They want to give themselves away, in whispers, to some one standing in the shadows.• At the door we briefly confer in whispers.• Everyone was confiding an episode in whispers.• But they say it in a whisper.• Both spoke to each other in whispers.• "Well, that's finally over, " I said in a whisper.• I tried not to think about my father, and I was furious when the women speculated in whispers about the men.• They can get down now, and drink something, and talk in whispers.whisper that• Another whispered that the policeman was wary, unsure of what to reveal and what to hide.• The other bands whispered that Joseph would now head for Lapwai, abandoning them as Lawyer had done.• Some officers privately whispered that Combined Fleet Headquarters seemed seriously to underestimate enemy capabilities.• She whispered that Klaus told her she must take the message from me after I'd read it.• Some whispered that Miss Monti was a Communist because of her unconventional behavior and radical dress.• These whispered that so far all was well.• Most controversial were whispers that Joseph Smith had gone so far in restoring ancient ways that he had reintroduced polygamy.Origin whisper1 Old English hwisprian

whis·per1 verbwhisper2 noun →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable  

Corpus breath your to quietly, using speak say very something or

whisper

I

whis‧per¹ W3 /ˈwɪspə $ -ər/ verb1. [intransitive and transitive] to speak or say something very quietly, using your breath rather than your voice:
    You don’t have to whisper, no one can hear us.
    whisper about
    What are you two whispering about over there?
    whisper something to somebody
    James leaned over to whisper something to Michael.
    ‘I’ve missed you,’ he whispered in her ear.
2. [transitive] to say or suggest something privately or secretly
    whisper that
    Staff were whispering that the company was about to go out of business.
     

THESAURUS

■ different ways of saying something
   ▪ whisper to say something very quietly, using your breath rather than your full voice: ‘Don’t wake the baby,’ Jenny whispered.
   ▪ mumble to say something quietly without pronouncing the words clearly: He mumbled his thanks.
   ▪ mutter to say something quietly, especially when you are annoyed but do not want someone to hear you complaining: ‘This is ridiculous,’ he muttered under his breath. | She muttered something about having to go home early.
   ▪ murmur to say something in a soft slow gentle voice: She stroked his hair and murmured, ‘Don’t worry. You’ll be all right.’
   ▪ growl to say something in a low angry voice: ‘As I was saying,’ Lewis growled, ‘it needs to be finished today.’
   ▪ snarl to say something in a nasty angry way: ‘Get out of my way!’ he snarled.
   ▪ exclaim to say something suddenly and loudly: ‘How beautiful!’ she exclaimed.
   ▪ blurt out to suddenly say something without thinking, especially something embarrassing or secret: It was partly nervousness that had made him blurt out the question.
   ▪ stammer/stutter to speak with a lot of pauses and repeated sounds, because you have a speech problem, or because you are nervous or excited: ‘I’ll, I’ll only be a m-moment,’ he stammered.

II

whisper² noun [countable]
1. a very quiet voice you make using your breath and no sound
    in a whisper
    ‘Where are we going?’ he asked in a whisper.
2. a piece of news or information that has not been officially announced and may or may not be true
   SYN  rumour
    whisper of
    The first whisper of the redundancies came from the newspapers.
    whisper that
    There are whispers that the actor was seen checking into a hospital last week.
3. a whisper of something literary a low soft sound made by something such as the wind
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ adjectives
   ▪ a hoarse whisper Her voice came out as a hoarse whisper.
   ▪ a loud whisper ‘Where are you going?’ I said in a loud whisper.
   ▪ a low/soft whisper When he spoke, it was in a low whisper.
   ▪ a stage whisper (=a loud whisper that you intend everyone to hear) 'What’s going on?' Rory said, in a stage whisper.
   ▪ a hushed whisper They spoke in the hushed whispers of churchgoers.
   ▪ an urgent whisper ‘Daddy!’ he said in an urgent whisper.
   ▪ a fierce whisper ‘Let me go!’ she said in a fierce whisper.
   ▪ a conspiratorial whisper (=used when you share a secret with someone) ‘Does she suspect anything?’ said Ruth in a conspiratorial whisper.
■ phrases
   ▪ speak/talk in whispers They spoke in quick, urgent whispers.
   ▪ barely/hardly/scarcely above a whisper (=only a little louder than a whisper) 'Not me', he said, in a voice barely above a whisper.