croon

Meaning

Verb

1. 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. To soothe (a person or an animal) by singing softly.
3. 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. To lament, to moan.
5. To make a continuous hollow low-pitched moan, as of cattle; to bellow, to low.
6. 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. A continuous hollow low-pitched moan, as of cattle; a bellow.
3. 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

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kɹuːn/

Etymology

A person crooning (sense 2.1).

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”)