croon
C2Informal, Literary, Musical (specialised)
Definition
Meaning
To sing or hum softly and sentimentally, often in a low, gentle voice.
To speak or perform (a song, poem, or speech) in a smooth, melodious, often overly emotional manner; to perform popular songs in a soft, intimate style, as was common in the early-to-mid 20th century (e.g., Bing Crosby).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In contemporary use, it is often associated with a nostalgic or slightly dated style of singing (like 'crooners' of the 1930s-50s). It can carry connotations of sentimentality, intimacy, or sometimes artificial emotion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant grammatical or definitional differences. The cultural reference to 'crooners' is equally understood.
Connotations
Slightly stronger association with old-fashioned sentimentality in British English.
Frequency
Rare in daily conversation in both varieties. Slightly higher frequency in American English due to its historical prominence in American popular music.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SBJ] croon + [OBJ: song/tune/lullaby][SBJ] croon + to + [OBJ: person/audience][SBJ] croon + that-clause (rare, literary)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “croon a tune”
- “in a crooning voice”
- “the art of crooning”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, except in historical/cultural studies of music.
Everyday
Used to describe singing softly, often to a child or pet.
Technical
Used in musicology to describe a specific vocal style characterised by minimal vibrato, intimate microphone use, and smooth phrasing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He would croon old music hall tunes to his grandchildren.
- The singer began to croon into the vintage microphone.
American English
- She crooned a lullaby to the baby until he fell asleep.
- Frank Sinatra could croon a ballad like no one else.
adverb
British English
- He spoke crooningly, trying to calm her down. (rare/archaic)
American English
- She sang crooningly into the mic. (rare/archaic)
adjective
British English
- He had a pleasant, crooning voice. (as participial adjective)
- The crooning style fell out of fashion for a while.
American English
- The band featured a crooning vocalist. (as participial adjective)
- I'm not a fan of that crooning sound.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The mother crooned a soft song to her baby.
- I heard someone crooning in the next room.
- The old radio played a tune that some crooner had made famous decades ago.
- He has a deep, crooning voice that's perfect for jazz standards.
- The vocalist eschewed modern pyrotechnics, preferring to croon the lyrics with understated elegance.
- His tendency to croon every line, even the upbeat ones, drained the song of its intended energy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a RACCOON singing a lullaby softly to its babies – a crooning raccoon. The 'croo' sounds like the low, gentle sound it makes.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUND IS A SMOOTH LIQUID (to croon is to pour out a smooth stream of sound).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как "хрипеть" (to wheeze) или "каркать" (to croak).
- Ближе по смыслу к "напевать", "мурлыкать (песню)" или "исполнять задушевно".
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'croon' with 'groan' (a sound of pain).
- Using it to describe any type of singing, rather than specifically soft, smooth, and sentimental singing.
- Misspelling as 'crone' (an old woman).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is the BEST example of 'crooning'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is generally neutral but can be positive (intimate, soothing) or slightly negative (overly sentimental, dated) depending on context and the speaker's taste in music.
Typically, no. The core meaning involves singing or humming. It can be extended to speaking in a similarly soft, melodious way, but this is less common.
Bing Crosby is often considered the archetypal crooner. Other classic examples include Frank Sinatra (early career), Nat King Cole, and Dean Martin.
The specific mid-20th century style is considered classic/vintage. However, elements of crooning (intimate, conversational singing with a microphone) are foundational to much modern pop, R&B, and indie music.