buzz

[ buhz ]

/ bʌz /

See synonyms for: buzz / buzzed / buzzing on Thesaurus.com

noun

a low, vibrating, humming sound, as of bees, machinery, or people talking.

Informal. a rumor or report: There's a buzz going around that he'll soon be fired.

Informal. a phone call: When I find out, I'll give you a buzz.

Slang.

a feeling of intense enthusiasm, interest, excitement, or exhilaration: I get a terrific buzz from those Pacific sunsets.Their ads are generating plenty of buzz.
a feeling of slight intoxication or overstimulation from liquor or drugs: Too much caffeine gives me a buzz.

verb (used without object)

to make a low, vibrating, humming sound.

to speak or murmur with such a sound.

to be filled with the sound of buzzing or whispering: The room buzzed.

to whisper; gossip: Everyone is buzzing about the scandal.

to move busily from place to place.

Slang. to go; leave (usually followed by off or along): I'll buzz along now. Tell him to buzz off and leave me alone.

verb (used with object)

to make a buzzing sound with: The fly buzzed its wings.

to tell or spread (a rumor, gossip, etc.) secretively.

to signal or summon with a buzzer: He buzzed his assistant.

Informal. to make a phone call to.

Aeronautics.

to fly a plane very low over: to buzz a field.
to signal or greet (someone) by flying a plane low and slowing the motor spasmodically.

QUIZZES

DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!

We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?

Question 1 of 11

Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?

owl

crow

piranha

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for buzz

have / get a buzz on, Slang. to be slightly intoxicated: After a few beers they all had a buzz on.

Origin of buzz

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English busse; imitative

OTHER WORDS FROM buzz

buzz·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby buzz

buy-to-let, buyup, Buzau, buzkashi, buzuki, buzz, buzzard, Buzzard's Bay, buzz bomb, buzzcut, buzzer

Definition for buzz (2 of 2)

buzz²

[ buhz ]

/ bʌz /

noun Slang.

a man's very short haircut; crew cut.

Origin of buzz

Origin uncertain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for buzz

Perhaps no platform has generated more buzz in 2020 than TikTok, which has been hailed as a “must-have” for a marketer’s toolkit if they want to appeal to not only Gen Zs, but a user that increasingly spans across demographics.
Deep Dive: How the Summer of 2020 forced brand marketing to change for the better|jim cooper|September 14, 2020|Digiday
The Brooklyn native, born Bashar Barakah Jackson, was generating a noteworthy buzz shortly before several men broke into the Los Angeles home where he was staying and shot him to death, according to recent arrest reports, in February.
We Hear Dead People: Our Favorite Posthumous Hip-Hop Albums. Ever|Joshua Eferighe|August 31, 2020|Ozy
There’s been a lot of buzz around what helps the Instagram algorithm determine which posts deserve each user’s immediate attention and should be therefore placed at the top of the feed.
How to optimize for the Instagram algorithm in 2020|Julia Miashkova|August 19, 2020|Search Engine Watch
“Slack is a poor substitute for the sound of ringing typewriters, but nonetheless you start to see the beginnings of that kind of office buzz being recreated,” said Jarvis.
The closure of newsrooms is a symbolic end of a publishing era|Lara O'Reilly|August 18, 2020|Digiday

That could allow an elephant to get a buzz from eating a smaller amount of fermented fruit, Melin says.
Why elephants and armadillos might easily get drunk|Susan Milius|June 4, 2020|Science News For Students
The exposure and buzz from Short Term have raised her profile considerably.
Brie Larson’s Hollywood Transformation|Marlow Stern|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Few series arrive with the buzz of Aaron Sorkin's HBO drama.
'The Newsroom' Ended As It Began: Weird, Controversial, and Noble|Kevin Fallon|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
All this buzz, the continued tabloid fascination with Hurley, is down—absurdly—to that dress.
Happy 20th Birthday, Liz Hurley’s Safety-Pin Dress|Tim Teeman|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The grapevine and the international media were alight with the buzz of the student killed by the police during the demonstration.
How Havel Inspired the Velvet Revolution|Michael Zantovsky|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Clayton businesses and buildings are preparing for lockdowns as the Buzz Westfall Center in Clayton where the grand jury meets.
Ferguson Tensions in Black and White|Seth Ferranti|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With a whizz and a buzz the auto darted across the store, bringing up with a bang against the low part of the opposite counter.
Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store|Laura Lee Hope
A great six-foot German struggling with a slim figure that Buzz somehow recognised as his lieutenant, Hatton.
Cheerful--By Request|Edna Ferber
Then five minutes of painful reading ensued, with the buzz of voices increasing.
The Man with a Shadow|George Manville Fenn
Humming and strumming, and singing and smoking, splashing, and sparkling; a buzz of voices and booming of sea!
The Open Air|Richard Jefferies
She looked and saw two men advance with eager step and fall on bended knee at the foot of the throne amid a buzz of excitement.
The King's Men|Robert Grant, John Boyle O'Reilly, J. S. Dale, and John T. Wheelwright

British Dictionary definitions for buzz

buzz

/ (bʌz) /

noun

a rapidly vibrating humming sound, as that of a prolonged z or of a bee in flight

a low sound, as of many voices in conversation

a rumour; report; gossip

informal a telephone callI'll give you a buzz

slang

a pleasant sensation, as from a drug such as cannabis
a sense of excitement; kick

verb

(intr) to make a vibrating sound like that of a prolonged z

(intr) to talk or gossip with an air of excitement or urgencythe town buzzed with the news

(tr) to utter or spread (a rumour)

(intr often foll by about) to move around quickly and busily; bustle

(tr) to signal or summon with a buzzer

(tr) informal to call by telephone

(tr) informal

to fly an aircraft very low over (an object)to buzz a ship
to fly an aircraft very close to or across the path of (another aircraft), esp to warn or intimidate

(tr) (esp of insects) to make a buzzing sound with (wings, etc)

Derived forms of buzz

buzzing, noun, adjective

Word Origin for buzz

C16: of imitative origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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