croon

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To hum or sing (a song or tune), or to speak (words), softly in a low pitch or in a sentimental manner; specifically, to sing (a popular song) in a low, mellow voice.
2. (transitive) To soothe (a person or an animal) by singing softly.
3. (intransitive) To hum or sing, or to speak, softly in a low pitch or in a sentimental manner; specifically, to sing a popular song in a low, mellow voice.
4. (Northern-England, Scotland, intransitive) To lament, to moan.
5. (Northern-England, Scotland, intransitive) To make a continuous hollow low-pitched moan, as of cattle; to bellow, to low.
6. (Northern-England, Scotland, intransitive) Of a large bell: to make a low-pitched sound.

Noun

1. A soft, low-pitched sound; specifically, a soft or sentimental hum, song, or tune.
2. (Northern-England, Scotland) A continuous hollow low-pitched moan, as of cattle; a bellow.
3. (Northern-England, Scotland) The low-pitched sound of a large bell.

Synonyms

hum

sing

warble

carol

chant

pipe

purr

quaver

trill

yodel

burble

yodle

coo

grouse

mumble

mutter

Translations

canturrear

chantonner

summen

fredonner

mırıldanmak

cantarolar

cantussejar

neurien

cantarellare

neuriën

croonen

دندن

şarkı mırıldamak

säuseln

balzen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kɹuːn/

Etymology

Cognate with Dutch: kreunen

Cognate with Middle Dutch: krônen

Cognate with Middle Low German: kroenen

Cognate with Old High German: chrônan

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: krȫnen

In summary

The verb is borrowed from Scots croon (“to utter a deep, long-drawn-out sound; to utter a lament, mourn; to sing in a wailing voice, whimper, whine; to mutter or sing in an undertone, hum”) [and other forms], from Middle English cronen (“to sing or speak softly, hum, croon”) (croyn (Scotland)) [and other forms], probably from Middle Dutch crônen, krônen (“to groan, moan; to lament”) (modern Dutch kreunen (“to moan”)), or Old High German chrônan, krônen (“to babble, prattle; to chatter”), probably from Proto-Germanic *kraunijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *gerH- (“to cry hoarsely”).
The noun is partly:
* borrowed from Scots croon (“a lament, wail; mournful song; low murmuring tune; (obsolete) long-drawn-out sound”), from croon (verb): see above; and
* derived from the verb.
Cognates
* Middle Dutch krônen (modern Dutch kreunen (“to groan, moan; to lament”))
* Middle Low German kroenen (“to babble, prattle; to chatter”), kronen (“to growl; to grumble; to scold”)
* Old High German chrônan, chrônnan (“to babble, prattle; to chatter”)
* Saterland Frisian krȫnen (“to cause to weep”)