mutter

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈmʌtɚ/ UK /ˈmʌtə/ See IPA manual

Freq #30339

Meanings

1

verb
To speak quietly and unclearly, often when complaining or annoyed.

He muttered something rude under his breath as he walked away.
2

noun
A quiet, unclear utterance, often of complaint.

The crowd accepted the decision with barely a mutter.
3

verb
To make a low, continuous rumbling sound.

Thunder muttered in the distance as the storm approached.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to speak quietly and... grumble mumble murmur

2 noun · a quiet, unclear utterance,... grumbling

3 verb · to make a low, continuous... rumble

More fumfer

Word family

Forms mutteredmutters

Derived forms amuttermutterancemutterationmutterermutteringlymuttersomemutteryunmuttered

Etymology

From Middle English muteren, moteren, of imitative origin. Compare Low German mustern, musseln (“to whisper”), German muttern (“to mutter; whisper”), Old Norse muðla (“to murmur”). Compare also Latin muttīre, mutīre.

muteren Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# mutter

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈmʌtɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈmʌtə/
**Frequency rank:** 30339

## Meanings
1. To speak quietly and unclearly, often when complaining or annoyed.
2. A quiet, unclear utterance, often of complaint.
3. To make a low, continuous rumbling sound.

## Examples
- He muttered something rude under his breath as he walked away.
- The crowd accepted the decision with barely a mutter.
- Thunder muttered in the distance as the storm approached.

## Synonyms
- fumfer

## Derived Forms
- amutter
- mutterance
- mutteration
- mutterer
- mutteringly
- muttersome
- muttery
- unmuttered

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: muteren

## Etymology
From Middle English muteren, moteren, of imitative origin. Compare Low German mustern, musseln (“to whisper”), German muttern (“to mutter; whisper”), Old Norse muðla (“to murmur”). Compare also Latin muttīre, mutīre.

## AI Etymology
Mutter comes from Middle English muteren, moteren, of imitative origin. Compare Low German mustern, musseln (“to whisper”), German muttern (“to mutter; whisper”), Old Norse muðla (“to murmur”). Compare also Latin muttīre, mutīre. In present-day English its meanings include to speak quietly and unclearly, often when complaining or annoyed, a quiet, unclear utterance, often of complaint, and to make a low, continuous rumbling sound. Related and derived forms include amutter, mutterance, and mutteration.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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