I. rum‧ble1 /ˈrʌmb
əl/
verb[
Date: 1300-1400;
Origin: Probably from early Dutch rommelen, from the sound]
1. [intransitive] to make a series of long low sounds, especially a long distance away from you:
We could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.2. [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move slowly along while making a series of long low sounds:
We watched the tanks rumbling past the window.3. [intransitive] if your stomach rumbles, it makes a noise, especially because you are hungry
4. [transitive] British English informal to find out what someone is secretly intending to do:
How did you rumble them?5. [intransitive and transitive] American English old-fashioned to fight with someone
rumble on phrasal verb if a disagreement rumbles on, it continues for a long time
Synonym : drag on:
The row about pay is still rumbling on. [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲
squeak a very short high sound or cry:
I heard the squeak of his shoes on the tiled floor. Annie gave a squeak of surprise.creak a long high sound that something makes when someone opens it, walks on it, sits on it etc - used especially about a door, wooden floor, bed, or stairs:
the creak of floorboards The door opened with a creak.screech a loud, long, unpleasantly high sound - used especially about someone’s voice, or about brakes, tyres etc:
There was a screech of tyres followed by a bang. She let out a screech of horror.beep (
also bleep British English) a high electronic sound that a machine sends out, especially in order to attract someone’s attention:
You’ll hear a bleep when the photocopier’s finished printing.hum a quiet low continuous sound, especially from electrical equipment, traffic, an engine, or people’s conversation:
The only sound was the faint hum of the air-conditioning unit. He could hear the hum of distant traffic.rustle a continuous quiet sound from papers, leaves, or clothes when they rub together:
She heard the rustle of dried leaves behind her. the rustle of silk dressesmurmur a quiet low continuous sound, especially from people’s voices that are far away:
The murmur of voices died away. They spoke in a low murmur.rumble a series of long low sounds, especially from big guns, traffic, or
thunder:
I heard a rumble of thunder. the low rumble of a train approachingsplash the sound that a liquid makes when something hits it, or when it hits against another thing:
She jumped into the pool with a big splash. the splash of the waves against the rocksgurgle the low sound that water makes when it flows gently over or through something:
the gurgle of a stream She listened to the gurgle as the water drained out of the bath.plop the sudden short sound when something is dropped into a liquid:
Kate dropped the ice into her glass with a plop.hiss a continuous high sound when air or gas comes out of something:
There was a hiss of steam from the coffee machine. Workers reported hearing a loud hiss moments before the explosion.bang a short sudden loud noise made by a gun, bomb etc:
There was a loud bang as the bomb exploded. The firework went off with a bang.boom a very loud sound from an explosion, which you can hear for several seconds after it begins:
The building exploded into rubble with a loud boom. The boom of artillery fire echoed in the distance.roar a continuous very loud noise that gets louder and continues for a long time:
The light was followed by the deafening roar of explosions. the roar of the ship’s gunscrash a very loud sound caused when something hits something else, especially when damage is caused:
The tray of dishes fell to the floor with a crash. I heard an enormous crash outside our house, and I went to see what had happened.thud a quiet low sound made when a heavy object falls down onto surface:
There was a dull thud as the box hit the floor. His head hit the ground with a sickening thud.thump a dull loud sound made when a heavy object hits something else:
There was a loud thump as Eddie threw Luther back against the wall.clink a short ringing sound made when two glass, metal, or china objects hit each other:
the clink of champagne glasses The clink of cutlery could be heard in the restaurant.tinkle the pleasant sound that is made by light pieces of glass or metal hitting each other repeatedly:
He listened to the faint tinkle of cow bells in the distance.jingle the sound of small metal objects being shaken together:
the jingle of her bracelets the jingle of keysrattle a short repeated sound made when things hit against each other - used especially when part of something is loose and is hitting against something:
There was a strange rattle coming from the engine. the rattle of the trolleyappear a more formal word for ‘seem’:
These reports appear to be unfounded.look to seem to be something, often because of what can be seen:
The future looks bleak. He looked pleased.sound used to say that something or someone seems to be something because of what you have heard or read about them, or because of the noise or voice that you hear:
This study sounds very ambitious. They heard what sounded like a blow.come across as something to seem to have particular qualities:
He comes across as a very sensitive man.sound advice He gave us some sound advice.sound judgement He was beginning to rely on her sound judgement.a sound reason Both these buyers have sound reasons for their choice.a sound investment Property is usually a sound investment.a sound policy The problems of industry will only be solved by sound economic policies.a sound basis Sometimes friendship is a sound basis for a good marriage.environmentally/ecologically sound The government encourages environmentally sound management of the countryside.ideologically sound (=good, according to a set of beliefs) It was the ideologically sound thing to do.scientifically/technically sound Are these studies scientifically sound? [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲
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.hum a quiet low continuous sound, especially from electrical equipment, traffic, an engine, or people’s conversation:
The only sound was the faint hum of the air-conditioning unit. He could hear the hum of distant traffic.rustle a continuous quiet sound from papers, leaves, or clothes when they rub together:
She heard the rustle of dried leaves behind her. the rustle of silk dressesrumble a series of long low sounds, especially from big guns, traffic, or
thunder:
I heard a rumble of thunder. the low rumble of a train approaching [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲