mutter

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

mut·ter [mutter mutters muttered muttering] verb, noun BrE [ˈmʌtə(r)] NAmE [ˈmʌtər]
verb
1. transitive, intransitive to speak or say sth in a quiet voice that is difficult to hear, especially because you are annoyed about sth
•+ speech ‘How dare she,’ he muttered under his breath.
•~ (sth) (to sb/yourself) (about sth) She just sat there muttering to herself.
•I muttered something about needing to get back to work.
•~ that… He muttered that he was sorry.
2. intransitive, transitive ~ (about sth) | ~ that… to complain about sth, without saying publicly what you think
Syn: ↑grumble
•Workers continued to mutter about the management.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
late Middle English: imitative; compare with German dialect muttern.

Example Bank:
•‘I don't need a drink, ’ she muttered through clenched teeth.
•A number of non-British visitors were heard to mutter that it would not have happened in Frankfurt.
•He was muttering incoherently to himself.
•Helen began muttering darkly about hospitals.
•She heard him mutter an oath under his breath.
•She muttered something about the incompetence of the office staff.
•‘How dare she?’ he muttered under his breath.

 
noun usually singular
a quiet sound or words that are difficult to hear
•the soft mutter of voices

Word Origin:
late Middle English: imitative; compare with German dialect muttern.

Example Bank:
•She gave a low mutter of apology.

 

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  grumble, grumbling, murmur, murmuring, muttering, murmuration, mussitation, croak, gnarl, mumble, maunder, mussitate