mute
[ myoot ]
/ myut /
adjective, mut·er, mut·est.
noun
verb (used with object), mut·ed, mut·ing.
to deaden or muffle the sound of.
to reduce the intensity of (a color) by the addition of another color.
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RELATED WORDS
peace, quiet, reticence, stillness, lull, secrecy, blackout, calm, taciturnity, quietude, censorship, dumbness, quietness, hush, quiescence, death, sleep, quietus, sulk, noiselessness
Nearby words
mutato nomine, mutazila, mutazilite, mutch, mutchkin, mute, mute swan, muted, mutedly, mutein, mutely
Origin of mute
1325–75; < Latin mūtus dumb; replacing Middle English muet < Middle French, equivalent to Old French mu (< Latin mūtus) + unexplained suffix -et; cf. -et
Related formsmute·ly, adverbmute·ness, noun
Can be confusedmoot mute
Usage note
See dumb.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for muteness
British Dictionary definitions for muteness (1 of 2)
mute
1/ (mjuːt) /
adjective
noun
verb (tr)
to reduce the volume of (a musical instrument) by means of a mute, soft pedal, etc
to subdue the strength of (a colour, tone, lighting, etc)
Derived Formsmutely, adverbmuteness, noun
Word Origin for mute
C14: muwet from Old French mu, from Latin mūtus silent
usage
Using this word to refer to people without speech is considered outdated and offensive and should be avoided. The phrase profoundly deaf is a suitable alternative in many contexts
British Dictionary definitions for muteness (2 of 2)
mute
2/ (mjuːt) archaic /
verb
(of birds) to discharge (faeces)
noun
birds' faeces
Word Origin for mute
C15: from Old French meutir, variant of esmeltir, of Germanic origin; probably related to smelt 1 and melt
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
Medicine definitions for muteness
mute
[ myōōt ]
adj.
Unable or unwilling to speak.
n.
One who does not have the faculty of speech. No longer in technical use; considered offensive.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.