Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To speak indistinctly in low tones.
  • intransitive verb To complain or grumble morosely.
  • intransitive verb To utter or say in low indistinct tones.
  • noun A low grumble or indistinct utterance.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To utter words in a low tone and with compressed lips, as in complaint or sullenness; murmur; grumble.
  • To emit a low rumbling sound.
  • To utter with imperfect articulation, or in a low murmuring tone.
  • noun A murmur or murmuring; sullen or veiled utterance.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Repressed or obscure utterance.
  • transitive verb To utter with imperfect articulations, or with a low voice.
  • intransitive verb To utter words indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; esp., to utter indistinct complaints or angry expressions; to grumble; to growl.
  • intransitive verb To sound with a low, rumbling noise.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A repressed or obscure utterance; an instance of muttering.
  • noun peas
  • verb To utter words, especially complaints or angry expressions, indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; to say under one's breath.
  • verb To speak softly and incoherently, or with imperfect articulations.
  • verb To make a sound with a low, rumbling noise.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
  • noun a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
  • noun a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone
  • verb make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English muttren, possibly from Latin muttīre.]

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Examples

  • I don't think that what "W" has to mutter is worth much.

    Bush on Obama: 'This guy has no clue' 2009

  • How can I parse this strange Arcadian Death, in mutter of oath, in rhyme of breath?

    The Lucifer Cantos 2/13 Hal Duncan 2009

  • How can I parse this strange Arcadian Death, in mutter of oath, in rhyme of breath?

    Archive 2009-07-01 Hal Duncan 2009

  • Can't remember, I'll have to check on that ... damn seive brain ... mutter mutter mutter ...

    we're number two 2005

  • If the author didn't know what a stainless gentleman Mr. Red House is he would think he heard him mutter a word that gentlemen wouldn't say.

    New Treasure Seekers Edith 1925

  • Even aloo mutter, which is made out of fresh peas, potatoes and tomatoes, is being dished out with dried green peas, fewer potatoes and practically no tomatoes.

    Daily News & Analysis 2009

  • Brook claims he meant to call Witkowski a "mutter," a somewhat less derogatory term.

    Auto-Corrected Text Leads To Murder The Huffington Post 2011

  • But they all allow that Sutter had begun a kind of mutter, when uprose Mr. Cutter with a sickening kind of ease,

    Complete Poetical Works Bret Harte 1869

  • The hard mutter which is the subject of the next extract embodies a difficulty that has perplexed many.

    Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley Yeardley, John, 1786-1858 1860

  • Brook, 33, told police he sent 27-year-old Witkowski a joking text message containing the word "mutter," a local colloquialism for a person who behaves in an antisocial or vulgar manner.

    NEWS.com.au | Top Stories 2011

Comments

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  • Excellent word.

    April 1, 2008

  • I always read this word wrong when I see it English, because I see it much more commonly in German.

    April 1, 2008

  • I like the first WordNET definition. This is my brother's native language. He grew up speaking Mutter. He flirted with Japanese but he still speaks only Mutter. Rumours abound that he once fully pronounced an entire phrase but my brother denies it. Well, that's what I think he said. It's his Mutter tongue after all.

    April 1, 2008

  • I have a background in Mutter too, bilby. I attempt to control it, though.

    April 2, 2008

  • Whassat?

    April 2, 2008

  • Perhaps you both would enjoy visiting here. ;->

    April 2, 2008

  • Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2.

    June 30, 2011