hum

hum  (hm)

v. hummed, hum·ming, hums

v.intr.

1.

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.

n.

1. The sound produced by humming.

2. The act of humming.

interj.

Used to indicate hesitation, surprise, or displeasure.

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[Middle English hummen, of imitative origin.]

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humma·ble adj.

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hum

Verb

[humming, hummed]

1. to make a low continuous vibrating sound

2. (of a person) to sing with the lips closed

3. to utter an indistinct sound when hesitating

4. Informal to be in a state of feverish activity: the town hums with activity and life

5. Slang to smell unpleasant

6. hum and haw See haw²

Noun

1. a low continuous murmuring sound

2. an unpleasant smell

interj, n

an indistinct sound of hesitation [imitative]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	hum - the state of being or appearing to be actively engaged in an activity; "they manifested all the busyness of a pack of beavers"; "there is a constant hum of military preparation" busyness activeness, activity, action - the state of being active; "his sphere of activity"; "he is out of action"
	2.	HUM - an Islamic fundamentalist group in Pakistan that fought the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s; now operates as a terrorist organization primarily in Kashmir and seeks Kashmir's accession by Pakistan Al Faran, Harkat ul-Ansar, Harkat ul-Mujahedeen, Harkat-ul-Mujahidin, HUA, Movement of Holy Warriors act of terrorism, terrorism, terrorist act - the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Pakistan, West Pakistan - a Muslim republic that occupies the heartland of ancient south Asian civilization in the Indus River valley; formerly part of India; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
	3.	hum - a humming noise; "the hum of distant traffic" humming 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"
Verb	1.	hum - sing with closed lips; "She hummed a melody" sing - produce tones with the voice; "She was singing while she was cooking"; "My brother sings very well"
	2.	hum - be noisy with activity; "This office is buzzing with activity" seethe, buzz be - have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer" pullulate, swarm, teem - be teeming, be abuzz; "The garden was swarming with bees"; "The plaza is teeming with undercover policemen"; "her mind pullulated with worries"
	3.	hum - sound with a monotonous hum thrum sound, go - make a certain noise or sound; "She went `Mmmmm'"; "The gun went `bang'"
	4.	hum - make a low continuous sound; "The refrigerator is humming" make noise, noise, resound - emit a noise

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hum

verb 1. drone, buzz, murmur, throb, vibrate, purr, croon, thrum, whir

verb 2. (Informal) be busy, buzz, bustle, move, stir, pulse, be active, vibrate, pulsate

Translations

hum [hʌm] vt → tararear, canturrear

vi → tararear, canturrear; [insect] → zumbar

n (ELEC) → zumbido; [of traffic, machines] → zumbido, ronroneo; [of voices etc] → murmullo

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hum [hʌm] vt [+ tune] → fredonner

vi → fredonner; [insect] → bourdonner; [plane, tool] → vrombir

n → fredonnement m; bourdonnement m; vrombissement m

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hum [hʌm] vt → summen

vi → summen;

(machine) → brummen

n → Summen nt;

(of traffic) → Brausen nt;

(of machines) → Brummen nt;

(of voices) → Gemurmel nt

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hum [hʌm] vt [+ tune] → canticchiare

vi → canticchiare; [insect, plane, tool] → ronzare

n (also ELEC) → ronzio; [of traffic, machines] → rumore m [of voices etc] → mormorio, brusio