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hum
[ huhm ]
verb (used without object)
- to make a low, continuous, droning sound.
- to give forth an indistinct sound of mingled voices or noises.
- to utter an indistinct sound in hesitation, embarrassment, dissatisfaction, etc.; hem.
- to sing with closed lips, without articulating words.
- to be in a state of busy activity:
The household hummed in preparation for the wedding.
- British Slang. to have a bad odor, as of stale perspiration.
verb (used with object)
- to sound, sing, or utter by humming:
to hum a tune.
- to bring, put, etc., by humming:
to hum a child to sleep.
noun
- the act or sound of humming; an inarticulate or indistinct murmur; hem.
- Audio. an unwanted low-frequency sound caused by power-line frequencies in any audio component.
interjection
- (an inarticulate sound uttered in contemplation, hesitation, dissatisfaction, doubt, etc.)
hum
/ hʌm /
verb
- intr to make a low continuous vibrating sound like that of a prolonged m
- intr (of a person) to sing with the lips closed
- intr to utter an indistinct sound, as in hesitation; hem
- informal.intr to be in a state of feverish activity
- slang.intr to smell unpleasant
- slang.intr to scrounge
- hum and hawSee hem 2
noun
- a low continuous murmuring sound
- electronics an undesired low-frequency noise in the output of an amplifier or receiver, esp one caused by the power supply
- slang.a scrounger; cadger
- slang.an unpleasant odour
interjection
- an indistinct sound of hesitation, embarrassment, etc; hem
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Derived Forms
- ˈhummer, noun
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Other Words From
- under·hum noun
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of hum1
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Example Sentences
What once seemed so rare and arcane has now become a sad hum in the background — the contrails of an administration that the country may take a generation to shake.
Over the past four years, there has been a constant, low-level hum of rumors about the status of Apple’s automotive ambitions, with a major partnership announcement always supposedly just months or weeks away.
Think about the general din of being inside an airplane or hum of an air conditioning unit, with active noise cancellation all that disappears.
Those in charge of maintenance should have their tasks made easier by Health and Usage Monitoring Systems, or HUMS.
The hum is generated by the rapid jitters of particles that make up the hot object.
There was Carol White, a ho-hum homemaker who finds herself besieged by multiple chemical sensitivity in Safe.
Lily Allen explained away the poor sales and ho-hum critical reception to Sheezus by…basically blaming other people.
His New York accent slices through the incessant hum of voices.
There was no shelling this time, but there was the hum of watchful drones.
The summer of music may have started with a ho-hum and largely stayed there.
The setting is pristine, the mysteries acquire a low hum, and the events are wild and horrific.
Achtung Baby's ironic astringency was a successful reaction to Rattle and Hum's gauzy sincerity.
The pre-buzz on OITNB (which was really more of a dull hum): what is this show?
Just smile, hum a tune, count backwards from a thousand repeatedly.
There was even sharp disagreement over the distinctive hum at the start of the record.
The ho-hum ‘Super Fun Night,’ however, turns out to be a nightmare, says Kevin Fallon.
DE, from the French, means "of" as in "from;" DO, like the deer, is the first tone you hum.
At night, the ship is lit up like a circus and a constant hum of generators and drills fills the air.
From the site, one can hear the hum of traffic and see cars passing on the street.
There was an elated hum in the room, but the guests restrained themselves.
If it is, Obama will win, even if the economy is ho-hum, and the political scientists will have four years to figure out why.
For the record: A bloody toe for a ballerina is like a bruise for a boxer: ho-hum.
One was hitting a rock with another rock and humming an incomprehensible baby hum.
She spoke over the afternoon hum of Serendipity, the famous Upper East Side ice-cream parlor.
I tracked down Gladwell on his cellphone, amid the hum of coffeehouse chatter, and outlined my thesis.
The hum of earnest or glad voices here contrasted strongly with silence and meditation there.
The girl began to hum, as she powdered her nose with a white glove, lying in a powder box.
She fell to her task again, only now she began to hum softly, thus shutting me off entirely.
In a moment Skipper Worse was wide awake, and began to hum, as she moved her fingers along the lines.
Matt listened to the steady hum of the Comet's twin cylinders with an exultation he could not conceal.
Many, therefore, who did not assent to all that the King had said, joined in a loud hum of approbation when he concluded.
Softly Amy began to hum a popular song, but Mollie interrupted her impatiently.
Another hour, and a rising hum from a buzzer beside him gave warning of approach to the destination he had fixed.
But the voices continued in their indistinguishable hum and in a minute Gale was through the window on the roof.
The ecclesiastic's voice droned on, his voice hanging like the hum of some great Insect upon the scented air.
But I know the value of money, I do, and you may bet your bottom dollar that I'll make things hum.
The warm air held the smell of all sorts of commodities; there was a great hum of small transactions, clink of small profits.
The gardens of the Golden Shell buzzed with the clatter and hum of a thousand busy squires.
The Ltschine rushed along with its continual hum, the wind shrieked, and the clouds hurried across the sky.
There were ten or twelve girls at each table and throughout the meal a pleasant hum of voices filled the room.
The air was calm, and I could distinctly hear the confused hum of preparation for the great battle.
I cannot hum this song, because the severe conditions of my story forbid me even to make the adventurous attempt.
In his ear buzzed the comforting hum of the com, tying him with the flitter and so, in a manner, to safety.
It was a fine day, and the woods to which I led him were green and pleasant and sweet-smelling, and alive with the hum of insects.
It was strangely peaceful, and one almost expected to hear the hum of bees as in a New England orchard.
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