different between whisper vs grunt

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 grunten, from Old English grunnettan (“to grunt”), from Proto-Germanic *grunnatjan? (“to grunt”), frequentative of Proto-Germanic *grunn?n? (“to grunt”), from Proto-Indo-European *g?run- (“to shout”).

Cognate with German grunzen (“to grunt”), Danish grynte (“to grunt”). The noun senses are all instances of zero derivation from the verb.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???nt/
• Rhymes: -?nt

Noun

grunt (plural grunts)

1. A short snorting sound, often to show disapproval, or used as a reply when one is reluctant to speak.
2. The snorting cry of a pig.
3. Any fish of the perciform family Haemulidae.
4. A person who does ordinary and boring work.

   Synonyms: gofer, lackey, peon

5. (US, military slang) An infantry soldier.

   Coordinate term: pogue
6. (slang) The amount of power of which a vehicle is capable.
   • 1992, Autocar & Motor (volume 192, page 61)

     The engine might not possess quite as much grunt as the later 24v six, but it delivers invigorating performance […]

   • 2006, Torque (February 2006, page 56)

     With this much grunt, it is surprising that the engine is relatively quiet.
7. (Canada, US) A dessert of steamed berries and dough, usually blueberries; blueberry grunt.

   Synonyms: fungy, fungee

Derived terms

• grunt boy
• grunt-level
• grunt level
• grunt work

Translations

Verb

grunt (third-person singular simple present grunts, present participle grunting, simple past and past participle grunted)

1. (intransitive, of a person) To make a grunt or grunts.
2. (intransitive, of a pig) To make a grunt or grunts.
3. (intransitive, Britain, slang) To break wind; to fart.

See also

The frequentative form gruntle.

Translations

References

Middle English

Verb

grunt

1. Alternative form of grunten

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

grunt

1. neuter singular of grunn

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

grunt

1. neuter singular of grunn

Old Dutch

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *grunduz.

Noun

grunt m

1. ground

Inflection

This noun needs an inflection-table template.

Descendants

• Middle Dutch: gront
  • Dutch: grond

Further reading

• “grunt”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012

Polish

Etymology

Borrowed from German Grund.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?runt/

Noun

grunt m inan

1. (construction, geology) soil
2. ground (the bottom of a body of water)

Declension

Derived terms

• gruntowno??
• gruntowy
• gruntowny
• gruntownie

Further reading

• grunt in Wielki s?ownik j?zyka polskiego, Instytut J?zyka Polskiego PAN
• grunt in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

Borrowed from German Grund.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?rûnt/

Noun

gr?nt m (Cyrillic spelling ??????)

1. (regional) plot of land, lot

Declension

Swedish

Adjective

grunt

1. absolute indefinite neuter form of grund.

Adverb

grunt

1. shallowly