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hum1

Pronunciation: /hʌm/
Translate hum | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of hum

verb (hums, humming, hummed)

[no object]
  • 1make a low, steady continuous sound like that of a bee:the computers hummed
  • sing with closed lips:he hummed softly to himself [with object]:she was humming a cheerful tune
  • (of a place) be filled with a low, steady continuous sound:the room hummed with an expectant murmur
  • 2 informal be in a state of great activity:the house was humming with preparations for the dance
  • 3British informal smell unpleasant:when the wind drops this stuff really hums

noun

[in singular]
  • a low, steady continuous sound:the hum of insects a low hum of conversation
  • an unwanted low-frequency noise in an amplifier caused by variation of electric current, especially the alternating frequency of the mains.

Phrases

hum and haw (or chiefly North American hem and haw)

British be indecisive: I was humming and hawing over buying copies

Derivatives

hummable

adjective

hummer

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: imitative

hum in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of hum in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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