different between whisper vs roar

English

Etymology

From Middle English whisperen, from Old English hwisprian (“to mutter, murmur, whisper”), fromProto-Germanic *hwispr?n? (“to hiss, whistle, whisper”), from Proto-Indo-European *?weys-, *?wey- (“to hiss, whistle, whisper”). Cognate with Dutch wisperen (“to whisper”), German Low German wispeln (“to whisper”), German wispern (“to mumble, whisper”). Related also to Danish hviske (“to whisper”), Swedish viska (“to whisper”), Norwegian hviske (“to whisper”), Icelandic hvískra and hvísla (“to whisper”). More at English whistle.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?(h)w?sp?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?(h)w?sp?/
• Rhymes: -?sp?(?)

Noun

whisper (plural whispers)

1. The act of speaking in a quiet voice, especially, without vibration of the vocal cords.

   I spoke in a near whisper

   • 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island:

     "Now, look here, Jim Hawkins," he said, in a steady whisper, that was no more than audible.
2. (usually in the plural) A rumor.

   There are whispers of rebellion all around.

3. (figuratively) A faint trace or hint (of something).

   The soup had just a whisper of basil.

4. A low rustling sound, like that of the wind in leaves.
5. (Internet) A private message to an individual in a chat room.
   • 2002, Ralph Schroeder, The Social Life of Avatars (page 218)

     The invisibility of private interactions in the form of whispers resolved an ethical concern in the research but reduced our ability to gauge the volume of interaction […]

   • 2004, Caroline A. Haythornthwaite, Michelle M. Kazmer, Learning, Culture and Community in Online Education (page 179)

     Anyone logged in to the chat room can click on an individual name, highlighting it, and send a message — a whisper — that will be seen only by the selected person.

Derived terms

• stage whisper
• whisper campaign
• whisperous
• whispersome
• whispery

Translations

Verb

whisper (third-person singular simple present whispers, present participle whispering, simple past and past participle whispered)

1. (intransitive) To speak softly, or under the breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter words without sonant breath; to talk without that vibration in the larynx which gives sonorous, or vocal, sound.
2. (transitive) To mention privately and confidentially, or in a whisper.
   • 1692, Richard Bentley, A Confutation of Atheism

     They might buzz and whisper it one to another.

3. (intransitive) To make a low, sibilant sound.

   • the hollow, whispering breeze

4. (intransitive) To speak with suspicion or timorous caution; to converse in whispers, as in secret plotting.

   • All that hate me whisper together against me.

5. (transitive, obsolete) To address in a whisper, or low voice.

   • where gentlest breezes whisper souls distressed

6. (transitive, obsolete) To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform privately.

Derived terms

• whisperer

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English roren, raren, from Old English r?rian (“to roar; wail; lament”), from Proto-Germanic *rair?n? (“to bellow; roar”), from Proto-Indo-European *rey- (“to shout; bellow; yell; bark”), perhaps of imitative origin.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: rô, IPA^(key): /???/
• (General American) enPR: rôr, IPA^(key): /???/
• (rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) enPR: r?r, IPA^(key): /?o(?)?/
• (non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /?o?/
• Rhymes: -??(?)
• Homophone: raw (in non-rhotic accents with the horse–hoarse merger)

Verb

roar (third-person singular simple present roars, present participle roaring, simple past and past participle roared)

1. (intransitive) To make a loud, deep cry, especially from pain, anger, or other strong emotion.
2. To laugh in a particularly loud manner.

3. Of animals (especially the lion), to make a loud deep noise.
   • {1590 Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene Bk 1, Canto VI, XXIV, lines 6&7}

     Roaring bulls he would him make to tame.

4. Generally, of inanimate objects etc., to make a loud resounding noise.
   • How oft I crossed where carts and coaches roar.

5. (figuratively) To proceed vigorously.
6. (transitive) To cry aloud; to proclaim loudly.
   • 1639, John Ford, The Lady's Trial

     This last action will roar thy infamy.
7. To be boisterous; to be disorderly.
   • 1724, Gilbert Burnet, History of My Own Time

     It was a mad, roaring time, full of extravagance.

8. To make a loud noise in breathing, as horses do when they have a certain disease.
9. (Britain Yorkshire, North Midlands, informal) to cry

Translations

Noun

roar (plural roars)

1. A long, loud, deep shout, as of rage or laughter, made with the mouth wide open.
2. The cry of the lion.
   • 1900, L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

     The Winkies were not a brave people, but they had to do as they were told. So they marched away until they came near to Dorothy. Then the Lion gave a great roar and sprang towards them, and the poor Winkies were so frightened that they ran back as fast as they could.

3. The deep cry of the bull.
4. A loud resounding noise.

   the roar of a motorbike

   • 1944, Ernie Pyle, Brave Men, University of Nebraska Press (2001), page 107:

     "Those lovely valleys and mountains were filled throughout the day and night with the roar of heavy shooting."

5. A show of strength or character.

Translations

Anagrams

• Raro, orra

Swedish

Verb

roar

1. present tense of roa.