Hum
[hʌm]
Definition
(noun.) a humming noise; 'the hum of distant traffic'.
(verb.) sing with closed lips; 'She hummed a melody'.
(verb.) make a low continuous sound; 'The refrigerator is humming'.
(verb.) sound with a monotonous hum.
(verb.) be noisy with activity; 'This office is buzzing with activity'.
Inputed by Gerard--From WordNet
Definition
(v. i.) To make a low, prolonged sound, like that of a bee in flight; to drone; to murmur; to buzz; as, a top hums.
(v. i.) To make a nasal sound, like that of the letter m prolonged, without opening the mouth, or articulating; to mumble in monotonous undertone; to drone.
(v. i.) To make an inarticulate sound, like h'm, through the nose in the process of speaking, from embarrassment or a affectation; to hem.
(v. i.) To express satisfaction by a humming noise.
(v. i.) To have the sensation of a humming noise; as, my head hums, -- a pathological condition.
(v. t.) To sing with shut mouth; to murmur without articulation; to mumble; as, to hum a tune.
(v. t.) To express satisfaction with by humming.
(v. t.) To flatter by approving; to cajole; to impose on; to humbug.
(n.) A low monotonous noise, as of bees in flight, of a swiftly revolving top, of a wheel, or the like; a drone; a buzz.
(n.) Any inarticulate and buzzing sound
(n.) The confused noise of a crowd or of machinery, etc., heard at a distance; as, the hum of industry.
(n.) A buzz or murmur, as of approbation.
(n.) An imposition or hoax.
(interj.) An inarticulate nasal sound or murmur, like h'm, uttered by a speaker in pause from embarrassment, affectation, etc.
(interj.) A kind of strong drink formerly used.
(interj.) Ahem; hem; an inarticulate sound uttered in a pause of speech implying doubt and deliberation.
Editor: Stu
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. n. Buzz, make a buzzing sound.
v. a. Sing (in a low voice).
n. Buzz, buzzing sound.
Typed by Justine
Definition
v.i. to make a buzzing sound like bees: to utter a low droning sound: to supply an interval in speaking by an audible sound.—v.t. to sing in a low tone: to applaud anything by humming:—pr.p. hum′ming; pa.p. hummed.—n. the noise of bees and some other insects: any low dull noise.—interj. a sound with a pause implying doubt.—n. Hum′mer something that hums.—Hum and haw to hesitate in giving a direct answer; Humming ale ale that froths up well or that makes the head hum; Make things hum to set things agoing briskly.
v.t. to impose on.—n. an imposition.
Checked by Aurora
Examples
- You have now a--hum--a great position to support. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- My--hum--conscience would not allow it. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- You must remember that your uncle's state requires--hum--great forbearance from us, great forbearance. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- It is for your sake that I wish you, under the auspices of Mrs General, to form a--hum--a surface. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- But, as I know your loving and dutiful nature from--hum--from experience, I am quite satisfied that it is necessary to say no more. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- He shrunk behind the curtains, and called out very loudly-- 'Ha-hum! Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- Besides; if you are not filial, sir, if you discard that duty, you are at least--hum--not a Christian? Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- He walked to the fireplace and warmed himself, humming the fag end of a tune in a rich convivial bass voice. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Wildeve began humming as the reddleman had done. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- This she did upon her knees, humming a lively little tune the while. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- It was also named the _throstle_, from the fact that it gave a humming or singing sound while at work; but it is commonly known as the _drawing_ frame. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- She had been fashioned to adorn and delight; to what other end does nature round the rose-leaf and paint the humming-bird's breast? Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- She dropped a brisk curtsey, and walked back along the gallery, humming a little tune, and keeping time to it cheerfully with the nosegay in her hand. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in the afternoon. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- I asked him when I had hummed it quietly all through. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- And then she threw her work away, and threw her book after it, and sat down and hummed a tune, and hummed it out of tune, and quarrelled with it. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Madame Defarge poured it out for him, took to her knitting again, and hummed a little song over it. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- The reddleman hummed a tune. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- The town in its pristine prime was a great lumber centre, and hummed with the industry of numerous sawmills. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Bella hummed the Dead March in Saul, and said, after all it signified very little! Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- A thousand spindles whirled where one hummed before. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
Inputed by Lilly