hum

American  

[huhm] / hʌm /

verb (used without object)

hummed, humming

1. to make a low, continuous, droning sound.

2. to give forth an indistinct sound of mingled voices or noises.

3. to utter an indistinct sound in hesitation, embarrassment, dissatisfaction, etc.; hem.

4. to sing with closed lips, without articulating words.

5. to be in a state of busy activity.

   The household hummed in preparation for the wedding.

   Synonyms:

   buzz , bustle

6. British Slang.  to have a bad odor, as of stale perspiration.

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verb (used with object)

hummed, humming

1. to sound, sing, or utter by humming.

   to hum a tune.

2. to bring, put, etc., by humming.

   to hum a child to sleep.

noun

1. the act or sound of humming; an inarticulate or indistinct murmur; hem.

2. Audio.  an unwanted low-frequency sound caused by power-line frequencies in any audio component.

interjection

1. (an inarticulate sound uttered in contemplation, hesitation, dissatisfaction, doubt, etc.)

hum British  

/ hʌm /

verb

1. (intr) to make a low continuous vibrating sound like that of a prolonged m

2. (intr) (of a person) to sing with the lips closed

3. (intr) to utter an indistinct sound, as in hesitation; hem

4. informal  (intr) to be in a state of feverish activity

5. slang  (intr) to smell unpleasant

6. slang  (intr) to scrounge

7. See hem 2

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noun

1. a low continuous murmuring sound

2. electronics an undesired low-frequency noise in the output of an amplifier or receiver, esp one caused by the power supply

3. slang  a scrounger; cadger

4. slang  an unpleasant odour

interjection

1. an indistinct sound of hesitation, embarrassment, etc; hem

Other Word Forms

• hummer noun
• underhum noun

Etymology

Origin of hum

1300–50; Middle English; ultimately imitative; cognate with German hummen to hum; humblebee

Example Sentences

Her phone was kept on silent; electro-beats hummed in the background; digestive biscuits were devoured.

From BBC

Her LP is a narrative of troubled love and shattered small-town lives in which sparkly country songs sit alongside drones that conjure the hum of electrical lines snaking down a highway.

From The Wall Street Journal

It honors their enthusiasm, protects your kitchen equilibrium, and keeps the day humming along with the kind of gentle, slightly cinematic glow that makes Thanksgiving feel like Thanksgiving.

From Salon

But Google is making important strides in the AI race while also keeping its core business humming.

From The Wall Street Journal

Several local residents have complained about round-the-clock beeping and humming emitted by the self-driving cars as they make their way to two charging stations near the intersection of Euclid Street and Broadway.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• croon
• moan
• mumble
• murmur
• purr
• sing
• strum
• throb
• trill
• warble
• whisper