hum

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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.

hum

(hʌm)

vb, hums, humming or hummed

1. (intr) to make a low continuous vibrating sound like that of a prolonged m

2. (Music, other) (intr) (of a person) to sing with the lips closed

3. (intr) to utter an indistinct sound, as in hesitation; hem

4. (intr) informal to be in a state of feverish activity

5. (intr) slang Brit and Irish to smell unpleasant

6. (intr) slang Austral to scrounge

7. hum and haw See hem²³

8. a low continuous murmuring sound

9. (Electronics) electronics an undesired low-frequency noise in the output of an amplifier or receiver, esp one caused by the power supply

10. slang Austral a scrounger; cadger

11. slang Brit and Irish an unpleasant odour

interj, n

an indistinct sound of hesitation, embarrassment, etc; hem

[C14: of imitative origin; compare Dutch hommelen, Old High German humbal bumblebee]

ˈhummer n

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

hum

(hʌm)

v. hummed, hum•ming,
n., interj. v.i.

1. to make a low, continuous droning sound.

2. to sing with closed lips, without articulating words.

3. to give forth an indistinct sound of mingled voices or noises.

4. to utter an indistinct sound in hesitation, embarrassment, or dissatisfaction; hem.

5. to be in a state of busy activity; bustle.

v.t.

6. to sound or utter by humming: to hum a tune.

7. to bring, put, etc., by humming: to hum a child to sleep.

8. the act or sound of humming.

interj.

9. (an inarticulate sound uttered in contemplation, hesitation, dissatisfaction, doubt, etc.)

[1300–50; Middle English; ultimately imitative; compare Middle High German hummen to hum]

hum′mer, n.

hum

Past participle: hummed
Gerund: humming

Imperative
hum
hum

Present
I hum
you hum
he/she/it hums
we hum
you hum
they hum

Preterite
I hummed
you hummed
he/she/it hummed
we hummed
you hummed
they hummed

Present Continuous
I am humming
you are humming
he/she/it is humming
we are humming
you are humming
they are humming

Present Perfect
I have hummed
you have hummed
he/she/it has hummed
we have hummed
you have hummed
they have hummed

Past Continuous
I was humming
you were humming
he/she/it was humming
we were humming
you were humming
they were humming

Past Perfect
I had hummed
you had hummed
he/she/it had hummed
we had hummed
you had hummed
they had hummed

Future
I will hum
you will hum
he/she/it will hum
we will hum
you will hum
they will hum

Future Perfect
I will have hummed
you will have hummed
he/she/it will have hummed
we will have hummed
you will have hummed
they will have hummed

Future Continuous
I will be humming
you will be humming
he/she/it will be humming
we will be humming
you will be humming
they will be humming

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been humming
you have been humming
he/she/it has been humming
we have been humming
you have been humming
they have been humming

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been humming
you will have been humming
he/she/it will have been humming
we will have been humming
you will have been humming
they will have been humming

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been humming
you had been humming
he/she/it had been humming
we had been humming
you had been humming
they had been humming

Conditional
I would hum
you would hum
he/she/it would hum
we would hum
you would hum
they would hum

Past Conditional
I would have hummed
you would have hummed
he/she/it would have hummed
we would have hummed
you would have hummed
they would have hummed

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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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

hum

verb

1. drone, buzz, murmur, throb, vibrate, purr, croon, thrum, whir We could hear a buzz, like a bee humming.

2. (Informal) be busy, buzz, bustle, move, stir, pulse, be active, vibrate, pulsate On Saturday morning, the town hums with activity.

noun

1. buzz, murmur, drone There was a general hum of conversation around them.

hum and haw or hem and haw hesitate, waver, dither, vacillate, be indecisive, falter, swither (Scot. dialect) My mother hummed and hawed at first, then she agreed.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

hum

verb

To make a continuous low-pitched droning sound:

bumble, burr, buzz, drone, whir, whiz.

noun

A continuous low-pitched droning sound:

bumble, burr, buzz, drone, whir, whiz.

Translations

طنين، دَنْدَنَهيُرَنِّمُ ، يُدَنْدِنُيَضِجُّ بالحَرَكَةِ والنَّشاطيَطِنُّ يُهِمَّهُمُ

bzučetčile se hýbathřmotbroukatbrumlání

summesummenbrummennynne

summen hm

βουΐζω

zumbar tararear abejonear bullir canturrear

huminahurinahyminähymistähyrinä

fredonner bourdonner marcher rondement ronronnement ronronner

pjevušiti

zümmögés

humma; raula meî lokaîan munnsuî, niîursuîavera á fullu

canticchiare a bocca chiusa esitare mormorare mormorio puzzare

ブンブンいう

윙윙거리다

dūzgimaskolibrisūžimasvirte virti

dūkoņadūktdungošanadungotizrādīt aktivitāti

zoemen

nynning småsynge surre surring

zabrzęczeć

cantarolar zumbir

жужжать гудеть гул жужжание

hukot

brenčatibrundati

nynna

ร้องเพลงในคอ

vızıldamak vızıltıyoğun olmakmırıldanmak mırıltı

kêu vo ve

发嗡嗡声哼曲子嗡嗡叫嗡嗡声嘈杂声

hum

[hʌm]

A. N (gen) (Elec) → zumbido m; [of voices] → murmullo m

B. VT [+ tune] → canturrear, tararear

C. VI

1. [insect, wire] → zumbar; [person] → canturrear, tararear una canción

2. (fig) (= be busy) → bullir, hervir
the market place was humming → el mercado era un hervidero (de actividad), el mercado bullía or hervía de actividad
to make things hum → hacer que la cosa marche
to hum with activity → bullir de actividad

3. (= smell) → oler mal

4. to hum and haw → vacilar

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

hum

[ˈhʌm]

vt [+ tune] → fredonner

[person] → fredonner

[insect] → bourdonner

[machine] → vrombir

[tune] → fredonnement m

a hum of conversation → un bourdonnement de conversation

[insect] → bourdonnement m

[machine] → vrombissement m

hum

(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) → Gemurmel nt

(inf: = smell) → Gestank m (inf)

(insect, person) → summen; (traffic) → brausen; (engine, electric tool, radio, top etc) → brummen; (small machine, camera etc) → surren; the lines were humming with the news (fig) → die Drähte liefen heiß

(fig inf: party, concert etc) → in Schwung kommen; to make things/the party hum → die Sache/die Party in Schwung bringen; the headquarters was humming with activity → im Hauptquartier ging es zu wie in einem Bienenstock

to hum and haw (inf) → herumdrucksen (inf) → (over, about um)

(inf: = smell) → stinken (inf)

vt music, tune → summen

interj → hm

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

hum

[hʌm]

1. n (also) (Elec) → ronzio; (of traffic, machines) → rumore m; (of voices) → mormorio, brusio

2. vt (tune) → canticchiare

3. vi (insect) → ronzare; (person) → canticchiare a labbra chiuse; (engine, machine) → rombare; (wireless) → mandare un brusio (fig) (fam) (be busy) → animarsi
to make things hum (fam) → fare procedere le cose speditamente
to hum with activity → pullulare di attività
to hum and haw → essere incerto/a sul da farsi

hum

(ham) – past tense, past participle hummed – verb

1. to make a musical sound with closed lips. He was humming a tune to himself.

2. to make a similar sound. The bees were humming round the hive.

3. to be active. Things are really humming round here.

noun

a humming sound. I could hear the hum of the machines; a hum of conversation.

ˈhumming-bird noun

a small brightly-coloured American bird which makes a humming sound with its wings.

hum

→ يُهِمَّهُمُ bzučet summe summen βουΐζω tararear, zumbar surista fredonner pjevušiti canticchiare ブンブンいう 윙윙거리다 zoemen surre zabrzęczeć zumbir гудеть nynna ร้องเพลงในคอ vızıldamak kêu vo ve 嗡嗡叫

hum

n. susurro; tarareo; zumbido;

vt. [music] tararear; zumbar; murmurar, susurrar.

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

He was on the brudge wuth me, an' I told hum tull take a look tull the wedges o' number one hatch.

The sea must a-caught hum on the upper brudge deck, carried hum clean across the fiddley, an' banged hum head-on tull the pipe cover.

"Nor I hum. Heaven knows I could no a-picked hum out of a crowd, though he'll be havin' your nose I'm thunkun'."

'South-east-by-east,' I told hum. 'South-east-by-east, sir,' says he.

View in context

The Dragon-made a face, and growled again three times, 'Hum, hum, hum,' and said to the third, 'Do you know what your wineglass shall be?'

View in context

From hand to hand, the buckets went in the deepest silence, only broken by the occasional flap of a sail, and the steady hum of the unceasingly advancing keel.

Aye, you are the chap, ain't ye, that heard the hum of the old Quakeress's knitting-needles fifty miles at sea from Nantucket; you're the chap.

View in context

Instead of black, glossy bees- tamed by toil, clinging to one another's legs and drawing out the wax, with a ceaseless hum of labor- that used to hang in long clusters down to the floor of the hive, drowsy shriveled bees crawl about separately in various directions on the floor and walls of the hive.

View in context

Hereupon the sister of Scheherazade, as I have it from the "Isitsoornot," expressed no very particular intensity of gratification; but the king, having been sufficiently pinched, at length ceased snoring, and finally said, "hum!" and then "hoo!" when the queen, understanding these words (which are no doubt Arabic) to signify that he was all attention, and would do his best not to snore any more -- the queen, I say, having arranged these matters to her satisfaction, re-entered thus, at once, into the history of Sinbad the sailor:

"Hum!" said the king, again; but Scheherazade, paying him no attention, continued in the language of Sinbad.

View in context

Again, a young girl, more bold and saucy than was fitting, brushed the priest's black robe, singing in his face the sardonic ditty, "niche, niche, the devil is caught." Sometimes a group of squalid old crones, squatting in a file under the shadow of the steps to a porch, scolded noisily as the archdeacon and the bellringer passed, and tossed them this encouraging welcome, with a curse: "Hum! there's a fellow whose soul is made like the other one's body!" Or a band of schoolboys and street urchins, playing hop-scotch, rose in a body and saluted him classically, with some cry in Latin: " Eia!