A statement or claim of questionable accuracy, from no known reliable source, usually spread by word of mouth.
"The whole office was buzzing about a rumor that the company would be laying off half its staff next week."
In plain English: A rumor is an unproven story that people spread without knowing if it's true.
"The rumor spread quickly through the office that the company was planning to close down."
Usage: Use "rumor" as an uncountable mass noun when referring to the general concept of hearsay, but treat it as a countable singular or plural noun when discussing specific instances of such claims. Avoid using "rumors" with verbs like "spread" if you intend to emphasize the collective nature of gossip rather than individual items.
To tell a rumor about; to gossip.
"She loves to rumour that her neighbor is having an affair with the new manager."
In plain English: To rumor something means to spread unverified information about it quickly among people without checking if it is true.
"The news that she was leaving started to rumor through the office quickly."
The word rumor comes from the Latin rūmor, which meant "common talk." It traces its roots back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to shout" or "to roar."