{
    "term": "rumour",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "c1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a piece of information, or a story, that people talk about, but that may not be true",
            "sensetop": "rumour of somethingrumour about somethingrumour that…",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to **start/spread a rumour**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "There are widespread rumours of job losses.",
                    "contextForm": "rumour of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Some malicious rumours are circulating about his past.",
                    "contextForm": "rumour about something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I heard a rumour that they are getting married.",
                    "contextForm": "rumour that…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Many of the stories are based on rumour."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**Rumour has it** *(= people say)* that he was murdered."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I thought she was leaving the company, but perhaps it may be just a rumour."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His lengthy absence will fuel rumours that he has been fired."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Rumours about an impending divorce were rife."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The Chief Executive issued a statement to quash rumours of financial problems."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The actor confirmed rumours that he will be leaving the series."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The manager resigned suddenly amidst rumours of misconduct."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The rumour quickly swept the town."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There is no truth in the rumour that she is about to resign."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There were persistent rumours of drug taking among staff."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["malicious", "nasty", "scurrilous"],
                "verb + rumour/​rumor": ["start", "fuel", "spread"],
                "rumour/​rumor + verb": ["circulate", "get around", "go around"],
                "rumour/​rumor + noun": ["factory", "mill"],
                "preposition": ["amid rumours", "rumour about", "rumour concerning"],
                "phrases": ["rumour has it that…", "there is no truth in the rumour"]
            }
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈruːmə(r)/",
                "audio": "ru/rumour/rumour__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈruːmər/",
                "audio": "ru/rumour/rumour__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: from Old French rumur, from Latin rumor ‘noise’."
}