whis|per

whis|per «HWIHS puhr», verb, noun.

–v.i.

1. a) to speak very softly and low. b) to talk in this way, especially in another's ear, for the sake of secrecy or privacy.

2. Figurative. to talk quietly or secretly (usually implying hostility, malice, conspiracy, or gossip).

3. Figurative. to make a soft, rustling sound: »

The wind whispered in the pines.

–v.t.

1. to speak to in a whisper or low voice.

2. Figurative. to tell secretly or privately: »

It is whispered that his business is failing.

3. to utter without vibration of the vocal cords.

–n.

1. a) a very soft, low spoken sound: »

to converse in whispers.

b) Phonetics. speech without vibration of the vocal cords; sound produced by the outgoing breath stream when the glottis is closed almost as much as for voice, but the vocal cords are tightened so that they do not vibrate, used in pronouncing the voiced sounds when whispering, the voiceless sounds being produced as in normal speech.

2. Figurative. something told secretly or privately: »

the whispers of one's conscience. No whisper about having a new teacher has come to our ears.

3. a whispered word, phrase, remark, or speech.

4. Figurative. a soft, rustling sound: »

The wind was so gentle that we could hear the whisper of the leaves.

╂[Old English hwisprian]

–whis´per|er, noun.