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Humming
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
verb (used without object)
1.
to make a low, continuous, droning sound.
2.
to give forth an indistinct sound of mingled voices or noises.
3.
to utter an indistinct sound in hesitation, embarrassment, dissatisfaction, etc.; hem.
4.
to sing with closed lips, without articulating words.
5.
EXPANDto be in a state of busy activity: The household hummed in preparation for the wedding.
6.
COLLAPSEBritish Slang. to have a bad odor, as of stale perspiration.
verb (used with object)
7.
to sound, sing, or utter by humming: to hum a tune.
8.
to bring, put, etc., by humming: to hum a child to sleep.
noun
9.
the act or sound of humming; an inarticulate or indistinct murmur; hem.
10.
Audio. an unwanted low-frequency sound caused by power-line frequencies in any audio component.
interjection
11.
(an inarticulate sound uttered in contemplation, hesitation, dissatisfaction, doubt, etc.)
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English; ultimately imitative; cognate with German hummen to hum; compare humblebee
1300–50; Middle English; ultimately imitative; cognate with German hummen to hum; compare humblebee
Related forms
un·der·hum, noun
Synonyms
5. bustle, buzz.
5. bustle, buzz.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To humming
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
hum
late 14c., hommen "make a murmuring sound to cover embarrassment," later hummen "to buzz, drone" (early 15c.), probably of imitative origin. Sense of "sing with closed lips" is first attested late 15c.; that of "be busy and active" is 1884, perhaps on analogy of a beehive. Humming-bird (1630s) so called
EXPANDfrom sound made by the rapid vibration of its wings.
COLLAPSE
"There is a curious bird to see to, called a humming bird, no bigger then a great Beetle." [Thomas Morton, "New English Canaan," 1637]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
hum (hŭm)
n.
A low, continuous murmur blended of many sounds.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
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