buzz

English

Wikipedia

Etymology

Onomatopoeic.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ʌz

Noun

buzz (plural buzzes)

1. A continuous, humming noise, as of bees; a confused murmur, as of general conversation in low tones, or of a general expression of surprise or approbation.
2. A whisper; a report spread secretly or cautiously.
3. The audible friction of voice consonants.
4. A rush or feeling of energy or excitement.

   Still feeling the buzz from the coffee, he pushed through the last of the homework.

5. (slang) A telephone call.

Translations

humming noise

Bulgarian: бръмчене (bg) n., жужене (bg) n. Czech: bzukot (cs) m. Dutch: zoem (nl) Finnish: surina (fi) (bees), humina (fi), mutina (fi), ininä (fi) Hebrew: זמזום (he) (zimzúm) m. Italian: brusio (it) m.

Japanese: ブーン (ja) (būn) Polish: bzyczenie (pl) pl., gwar (pl), wrzawa (pl) Russian: жужжание (ru) (žužžánije) n. Spanish: zumbido (es) Swedish: surr (sv) n.

report spread secretly or cautiously

Bulgarian: слух (bg) m., мълва (bg) f. Finnish: huhu (fi)

Hebrew: שמועה (he) (sh'mu'á) f.

audible friction of voice consonants

feeling of energy or excitement

Dutch: opwinding (nl) f., roes (nl) m. Polish: faza (pl) f.

Swedish: rus (sv) n.

slang: telephone call

Dutch: belletje (nl) n. Finnish: kilautus (fi), pirautus (fi) French: coup de fil (fr) m.

Swedish: signal (sv) c.

Verb

buzz (third-person singular simple present buzzes, present participle buzzing, simple past and past participle buzzed)

1. To make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound, like that made by bees with their wings. Hence: To utter a murmuring sound; to speak with a low, humming voice.
   • 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula Chapter 20

     The flies, lethargic with the autumn, were beginning to buzz into the room.

2. To sound forth by buzzing.
3. To whisper; to communicate, as tales, in an under tone; to spread, as report, by whispers, or secretly.
4. To talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice.
5. (aviation) To fly very low over an airport or other location.

Quotations

• For examples of the usage of this term see the citations page.

Translations

to make a low, humming or sibilant sound

Bulgarian: бръмча (bg), жужа (bg) Czech: bzučet (cs) Dutch: zoemen (nl) Esperanto: zumi (eo) Finnish: surista (fi), suhista (fi), humista (fi), mutista (fi), hymistä (fi)

German: summen, brummen, surren Hebrew: זמזם (he) (zimzém) Hungarian: zümmög (hu) Russian: жужжать (žužžát’) Swedish: surra (sv), ina (sv)

to sound forth by buzzing

to communicate, as tales, in an under tone

Bulgarian: нашепвам (bg)

Finnish: kuiskia (fi), kuiskuttaa (fi), kuiskutella (fi), mutista (fi)

to talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice

Finnish: hymistä (fi), pulista (fi)

aviation: To fly very low over an airport or other location

Swedish: lågsniffa (sv)

Derived terms

• buzzword

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French

Etymology

English

Noun

buzz m. inv.

1. buzz (excitement)