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)- A hummed tune, i.e. created orally with lips closed.
- 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
- Busy activity, like the buzz of a beehive.
- (UK, slang) unpleasant odour.
- (dated) An imposition or hoax; humbug.
- (obsolete) A kind of strong drink.
Verb
- (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.
- (transitive) To express by humming.to hum a tune''The hazers ominously hummed "We shall overcome" while they paddled the unruly pledges
- (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.
- (intransitive) To buzz, be busily active like a beehive'The streets were humming with activity.''
- (intransitive) To produce low sounds which blend continuously
- (British) To reek, smell bad.This room really hums — have you ever tried spring cleaning, mate?
- (British) To deceive, or impose on one by some story or device.
- (transitive, dated, slang) To flatter by approving; to cajole; to impose on; to humbug.
Derived terms
Related terms
Anagrams
Interjection
- hmm; an inarticulate sound uttered in a pause of speech implying doubt and deliberation.----