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

For this friendly, the gentle hum of a few thousand conversations sounded more like the first morning of a Test match at Lord's.

From BBC

The aroma is deeper, fuller; the warmth blooms instead of merely humming.

From Salon

It is also cutting deeply into supplies of the invisible gas that is essential for cooling artificial-intelligence chip-making tools and keeping MRI scanners humming.

From The Wall Street Journal

In their place, birdsong and breeze and the gentle hum of muffled conversations floated all around them.

From Literature

The hum of conversation around us dulls and washes out while the clattering sound of plates and glasses being stacked behind the bar gets sharper, making my ears ring.

From Literature

Related Words

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