hum
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Pronunciation
-
- Rhymes: -ʌm
[edit] Etymology
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
[edit] Noun
|
Singular |
Plural |
hum (plural hums)
- A hummed tune, i.e. created orally with lips closed.
- An often indistinct sound resembling human humming.
- Busy activity, like a beehive's buzz
[edit] Translations
tune created orally with lips closed
indistinct sound resembling human humming
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
[edit] Verb
|
Infinitive |
Third person singular |
Simple past |
Past participle |
Present participle |
to hum (third-person singular simple present hums, present participle humming, simple past and past participle hummed)
- (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 of affect by humming
- 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
- (intransitive) To buzz, be busily active like a beehive
- (intransitive) To produce a low sounds blend continuously
- (British) To reek, smell bad.
- (British) To deceive, or impose on one by some story or device.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Translations
to make sound with lips closed
to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] Dutch
[edit] Etymology 1
jocular abbreviation of humeur (cfr.)
[edit] Noun
hum n. (plural hummen, diminutive hummetje, diminutive plural hummetjes)
- (good) mood
[edit] Etymology 2
[edit] Alternative forms
[edit] Interjection
hum!
- uttering to attract attention, without literal meaning