hum

(hŭm)

v. hummed, hum·ming, hums

v.intr.

a. To emit a continuous low droning sound like that of the speech sound (m) when prolonged.

b. To emit the continuous droning sound of a bee on the wing; buzz.

c. To give forth a low continuous drone blended of many sounds: The avenue hummed with traffic.

2. To be in a state of busy activity.

3. To produce a tune without opening the lips or forming words.

v.tr.

1. To sing (a tune) without opening the lips or forming words.

2. Baseball To throw or pitch (a ball) very fast.

1. The sound produced by humming.

2. The act of humming.

interj.

Used to indicate hesitation, surprise, or displeasure.

[Middle English hummen, of imitative origin.]

hum′ma·ble adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

humming

(ˈhʌmɪŋ)

the act of singing with closed lips

adj

(of a sound) low and continuous

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	humming - a humming noise; "the hum of distant traffic" hum noise - sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound); "he enjoyed the street noises"; "they heard indistinct noises of people talking"; "during the firework display that ended the gala the noise reached 98 decibels"
	2.	humming - the act of singing with closed lips singing, vocalizing - the act of singing vocal music

Translations

zumbido

humming

[ˈhʌmɪŋ]

A. N [of insect] → zumbido m; [of person] → tarareo m, canturreo m

B. CPD humming top N → trompa f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

humming

[ˈhʌmɪŋ] n [tune] → fredonnement m

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

humming

n (of insect, person) → Summen nt; (of traffic) → Brausen nt; (of engine, electric tool, radio, top etc) → Brummen nt; (of small machine, camera etc) → Surren nt; (of voices) → Murmeln nt, → Gemurmel nt

humming

hummingbird

n → Kolibri m

humming top

n → Brummkreisel m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Since the receipt of the last, I’ “—here a long passage was rendered indistinct by a kind of humming noise by the sheriff—” ‘I grieve to say that ‘—hum, hum, bad enough to be sure—’ but trusts that a merciful Providence has seen fit’—hum, hum, hum seems to be a good, pious sort of a man, ‘Duke; belongs to the Established Church, I dare say; hum, hum—’ vessel sailed from Falmouth on or about the 1st September of last year, and’—hum, hum, hum, ‘If anything should transpire on this afflicting subject shall not fail’— hum, hum; really a good-hearted man, for a lawyer—’but Can communicate nothing further at present’—hum, hum.

View in context

To the beekeeper's tap on the wall of the sick hive, instead of the former instant unanimous humming of tens of thousands of bees with their abdomens threateningly compressed, and producing by the rapid vibration of their wings an aerial living sound, the only reply is a disconnected buzzing from different parts of the deserted hive.

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The Father of the Marshalsea, even humming a tune, and wearing his black velvet cap a little on one side, so much improved were his spirits, went down into the yard, and found his old pensioner standing there hat in hand just within the gate, as he had stood all this time.

View in context

At length I fancied that I could hear a singular buzzing or humming sound; and the porter, after listening awhile, declared that he also could distinguish it.

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Then slowly the hissing passed into a humming, into a long, loud, droning noise.

Forth- with the hissing and humming ceased, and the black, dome- like object sank slowly out of sight into the pit.

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Petritsky, still humming, winked and made a pout with his lips, as though he would say: "Oh, yes, we know your Bryansky."

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Sampson Brass was no sooner left alone, than he set the office- door wide open, and establishing himself at his desk directly opposite, so that he could not fail to see anybody who came down-stairs and passed out at the street door, began to write with extreme cheerfulness and assiduity; humming as he did so, in a voice that was anything but musical, certain vocal snatches which appeared to have reference to the union between Church and State, inasmuch as they were compounded of the Evening Hymn and God save the King.

Thus, the attorney of Bevis Marks sat, and wrote, and hummed, for a long time, except when he stopped to listen with a very cunning face, and hearing nothing, went on humming louder, and writing slower than ever.

View in context

It is plain our little Margaret is not coming back, our little Margaret, dear haunted rooms, will never come back; no longer shall her little silken figure flit up and down your quiet staircases, her hands filled with flowers, and her heart humming with little songs.

View in context

A strange low-level humming noise has been emerging at a Canadian city for years, which has left local residents with poor health unable to deal with the persistent sound.

Mysterious humming noise haunts residents of Canada city