mumbling

Thân thiện

The old man is mumbling to himself as he walks.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Indistinct or low speech: The act of speaking unclearly, quietly, or with the mouth nearly closed, making the words hard to understand.
   • Ineffectual chewing: The action of chewing food in a weak, slow, or toothless manner.

Usage and Examples

• Noun (Indistinct Speech):

  • His constant mumbling made it difficult to follow the lecture.
  • Stop mumbling and speak clearly, please.

• Noun (Ineffectual Chewing):

  • The old dog's mumbling of his food was a sign of his age.

Advanced Usage

• "To be reduced to mumbling": To become so flustered, confused, or emotional that one cannot speak clearly.
  • Under the intense questioning, the witness was reduced to incoherent mumbling.

Variants and Related Words

• Mumble (verb): To speak or say something in a low, indistinct way.
  • He tends to mumble when he's nervous.
• Mumbler (noun): A person who mumbles.
• Mumbled (adjective): Describes speech that is indistinct.
  • We could only hear a mumbled apology.

Synonyms

• Murmuring: Speaking in a low, continuous, and indistinct voice.
• Muttering: Speaking in a low voice, often in a grumbling or complaining tone.
• Inarticulateness: The quality of being unable to speak clearly or effectively.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Mumbling and fumbling: Acting or speaking in a confused, awkward, or ineffective manner. (Often used together to emphasize clumsiness).
  • He spent the presentation mumbling and fumbling with his notes.

Học thuật

Noun

1. ineffectual chewing (as if without teeth)
2. indistinct enunciation

Từ đồng nghĩa

• gumming