English Explanatory Dictionary

murmuration

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An act or instance of murmuring.
  2. A flock of starlings, in particular when swarming in swirling patterns.
  3. An emergent order in a multi-agent social system.

Pronunciation

/ˌmɝməˈɹeɪʃən/ /ˌmɜːməˈɹeɪʃən/

Word forms

murmuration murmurations

Etymology

1350–1400; Medieval Latin murmuratio (“murmuring, grumbling”). The “flock of starlings” sense is probably derived from the sound of the very large groups that starlings form at dusk.

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