—whisper /ˈwɪs.pər/ aep /-pɚ/
noun (SPEECH)
F0 [C] a way of speaking very quietly, using the breath but not the voice, so that only the person close to you can hear you:
» I heard whispers outside my room.» She said it in a whisper so I presumed it wasn't common knowledge. "You see," she said, lowering her voice to a whisper, "he hasn't been well recently."Thesaurus+: ↑Ways of talkingF0 [S] LITERARY a soft, low noise:
» The silence was broken only by the whisper of the leaves in the gentle breeze.Thesaurus+: ↑Sounds made by objects, movement or impactnoun [C] (SUGGESTION)
► F0 a suggestion or piece of information that you hear privately from someone: » I've heard a whisper thatthey're heading for divorce.Thesaurus+: ↑Gossip and rumourverb [+ that] (SUGGEST) ↑Verb Endings for whisper
► F0 to suggest privately that something might be true: » People are whispering that she's going to retire next year.Thesaurus+: ↑Revealing secrets and becoming knownverb [I or T] (SPEAK) ↑Verb Endings for whisper
► B2 to speak very quietly, using the breath but not the voice, so that only the person close to you can hear you: » She leaned over and whispered something in his ear.» What are you two girls whispering about?» [+ speech] "Where are the toilets?" she whispered.» It's rude to whisper!Thesaurus+: ↑Ways of talking• • •
Extra Examples:» She leaned forward to whisper something in my ear.» She leaned over and whispered something in his ear.» The person on my left turned to me and whispered "Not another speech!".» They're the couple in the corner, whispering sweet nothings to each other.» She heard them whispering conspiratorially in the bedroom.