croon

v. i. [ OE. croinen, cf. D. kreunen to moan. √24. ] 1. To make a continuous hollow moan, as cattle do when in pain. [ Scot. ] Jamieson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To hum or sing in a low tone; to murmur softly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Here an old grandmother was crooning over a sick child, and rocking it to and fro. Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To sing in a soft, evenly modulated manner adapted to amplifying systems, especially to sing in such a way with exaggerated sentimentality. MW10 RHUD [ PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Crooned p. pr. & vb. n. Crooning. ] 1. To sing in a low tone, as if to one's self; to hum. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hearing such stanzas crooned in her praise. C. Bronté. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To soothe by singing softly. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fragment of the childish hymn with which he sung and crooned himself asleep. Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A low, continued moan; a murmur. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A low singing; a plain, artless melody. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a singer of popular ballads.
Syn. -- balladeer. [ WordNet 1.5 ]