Hi all, I'm looking for a particular word here in my second chapter. Since English is not my native language I find this one hard to look up, as I can't even think of a fitting word for the phenomenon in my native Dutch The thing I am looking to describe, preferably in one word, is the sound one hears when one is standing near or outside of a room filled with talking people. The "buzzing" sound of mingling voices, laughter and cheering. If there is a word for this at all, it would greatly help me.
Muffled? A collection/number of muffled (excited) voices in the next room. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/muffled?s=t Edit: equally, if the noise is undesired then you can describe it as a racket. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/racket?s=t
I was writing a short, choose your own adventure story for another website, and this is how I described it I don't think there's a singular word that describes it. "Buzz" is really the best thing I can think of.
Thanks all. Just to put it in its context: "Rich scents of roasted pork and fried onions greeted him as the doors where opened, intricate engravings slowly making way for the dimmed lights in the hallway and the buzz of mingling voices, laughter and cheers. The melodies of fluits and harps, accompanied by rhythmic drums, filled him with joy as they entered his ears. The last time he had heard them he had been lying in bed, confined to his chambers after once again having sneaked out of his bedroom and escaping into the night."
I think 'thrum' would work (a favourite of mine, actually ). Spoiler: Definition verb verb: thrum; 3rd person present: thrums; past tense: thrummed; past participle: thrummed; gerund or present participle: thrumming 1. make a continuous rhythmic humming sound. "the boat's huge engines thrummed in his ears" strum (the strings of a musical instrument) in a rhythmic way. "he thrums the strings" noun noun: thrum; plural noun: thrums 1. a continuous rhythmic humming sound. "the steady thrum of rain on the windows"
'Murmur' could work depending on volume. I like 'chatter' too. I want to say 'cacophony' but that's probably a bit much.
There might be a suitable word, but I can't really think of anything specific off the top of my head. From what I can tell, it's a word that describes a muffled continuous excitement/joy. It might be just easier to rewrite that part of the sentence and apply a series of descriptions. I'm sure someone will come up with a great solution, though.
"where" should be "were". "fluits" is not a word - I imagine you meant "flutes". "intricate engravings slowly making way for the dimmed lights" sounds like the engravings slowly moved away, or somehow faded away as the dim light hit them. I imagine what you were getting at was the reverse - the dim light highlighting or illuminating the intricate engravings. Dim light skimmed over the intricate engravings, maybe, since you seemed to suggest the light is travelling, but that would give the feeling that the light lit up the details in passing and then left them in darkness again later. Anyway, as to your question, "chatter" comes to mind. "Babble" or "babbling" also.
murmur is a single word, but to describe your sentiment exactly is along the lines of noisy birds.. Birds singing, birds humming, birds singing -- especially if you want to denote the outsiders as something non-important
The word is, "hubbub". noun: hubbub; plural noun: hubbubs; noun: hub-bub; plural noun: hub-bubs a chaotic din caused by a crowd of people. "... lights in the hallway and the hubbub of mingled voices, laughter and cheers."
