• Hum

    Pronunciation

    • Rhymes: -ÊŒm

    Origin

    From Old English hommen "make a murmuring sound to cover embarrassment," later (medieval English) hummen "to buzz, drone" (c.1420); akin to (medieval and modern) Dutch hommel 'humblebee', medieval German hummen 'to hum', probably ultimately of imitative origin

    Full definition of hum

    Noun

    hum

    (plural hums)
    1. A hummed tune, i.e. created orally with lips closed.
    2. An often indistinct sound resembling human humming.They could hear a hum coming from the kitchen, and found the dishwasher on.
      • Shakespearethe shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums
    3. Busy activity, like the buzz of a beehive.
    4. (UK, slang) unpleasant odour.
    5. (dated) An imposition or hoax; humbug.
    6. (obsolete) A kind of strong drink.

    Verb

    1. (intransitive) To make a sound from the vocal chords without pronouncing any real words, with one's lips closed.We are humming happily along with the music.
    2. (transitive) To express by humming.to hum a tune''The hazers ominously hummed "We shall overcome" while they paddled the unruly pledges
    3. (intransitive) To drone like certain insects naturally do in motion, or sounding similarly
      • 1922, Virginia Woolf, Jacob's Room Chapter 2A slight gloom fell upon the table. Jacob was helping himself to jam; the postman was talking to Rebecca in the kitchen; there was a bee humming at the yellow flower which nodded at the open window.
    4. (intransitive) To buzz, be busily active like a beehive'The streets were humming with activity.''
    5. (intransitive) To produce low sounds which blend continuously
    6. (British) To reek, smell bad.This room really hums — have you ever tried spring cleaning, mate?
    7. (British) To deceive, or impose on one by some story or device.
    8. (transitive, dated, slang) To flatter by approving; to cajole; to impose on; to humbug.

    Related terms

    Anagrams

    Interjection

    1. hmm; an inarticulate sound uttered in a pause of speech implying doubt and deliberation.----
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