rumor
pronunciation
How to pronounce rumor in British English:
UK [ˈruːmə]
How to pronounce rumor in American English:
US [ˈruːmə(r)]
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- Noun:
- gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth
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- Verb:
- tell or spread rumors
Word Origin
- rumor (n.)
- late 14c., from Old French rumor "commotion, widespread noise or report" (Modern French rumeur), from Latin rumorem (nominative rumor) "noise, clamor, common talk, hearsay, popular opinion," related to ravus "hoarse," from PIE *reu- "to bellow." Related: Rumorous. Rumor mill is from 1887. Dutch rumoer, German Rumor are from French.
- rumor (v.)
- 1590s, "spread a rumor; spread by way of rumor," from rumor (n.). Related: Rumored; rumoring.
Example
- 1. It 's likely because it 's not a rumor .
- 2. See also : baby organ theft rumor circulates as news
- 3. Was there a rumor that I was doing the can-can dance ?
- 4. In fact the british hadn 't assaulted boston or killed anyone ; the bells tolled for a false rumor .
- 5. One rumor holds that he was born a slave on a texas sugar plantation in the early 1840s another that he was the son of a new orleans freedman .