hum
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also hùm
Contents |
English [edit]
Pronunciation [edit]
Etymology [edit]
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
Noun [edit]
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.
- Busy activity, like a beehive's buzz
- (UK, slang) unpleasant odour.
Translations [edit]
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.
Verb [edit]
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
- 1922, Virginia Woolf, Jacob's Room Chapter 2
- A 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.
- 1922, Virginia Woolf, Jacob's Room Chapter 2
- (intransitive) To buzz, be busily active like a beehive
- 'The streets were humming with activity.
- (intransitive) To produce low sounds which blend continuously
- (UK) To reek, smell bad.
- This room really hums — have you ever tried spring cleaning, mate?
- (UK) To deceive, or impose on one by some story or device.
Derived terms [edit]
Related terms [edit]
Synonyms [edit]
Translations [edit]
to make sound with lips closed
to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion
Anagrams [edit]
Interjection [edit]
hum
- hmm; an inarticulate sound uttered in a pause of speech implying doubt and deliberation.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Alexander Pope to this entry?)
Dutch [edit]
Etymology 1 [edit]
jocular abbreviation of humeur (cfr.)
Noun [edit]
hum n (plural hummen, diminutive hummetje)
- (good) mood
Etymology 2 [edit]
Alternative forms [edit]
Interjection [edit]
hum!
- uttering to attract attention, without literal meaning
Serbo-Croatian [edit]
Etymology 1 [edit]
From Proto-Slavic *chъlmъ.
Pronunciation [edit]
- IPA: /xûːm/
Noun [edit]
hȗm m (Cyrillic spelling ху̑м)
Declension [edit]
declension of hum
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | hȗm | húmovi |
| genitive | huma | humova |
| dative | humu | humovima |
| accusative | hum | humove |
| vocative | hume | humovi |
| locative | humu | humovima |
| instrumental | humom | humovima |
Synonyms [edit]
Etymology 2 [edit]
Unknown provenance.
Noun [edit]
hum f (Cyrillic spelling хум)
