HUM • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Hum

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/həm/ Listen

noun

Hum n.

1.

A low monotonous noise, as of bees in flight, of a swiftly revolving top, of a wheel, or the like; a drone; a buzz. "The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums."

2.

Any inarticulate and buzzing sound; as:

(a)

The confused noise of a crowd or of machinery, etc., heard at a distance; as, the hum of industry. "But 'midst the crowd, the hum, the shock of men."

(b)

A buzz or murmur, as of approbation.

3.

An imposition or hoax.

4.

An inarticulate nasal sound or murmur, like h'm, uttered by a speaker in pause from embarrassment, affectation, etc. "These shrugs, these hums and ha's."

5.

A kind of strong drink formerly used. (Obs.)

Venous hum. See under Venous.

verb

Hum v. t.

1.

To sing with shut mouth; to murmur without articulation; to mumble; as, to hum a tune.

2.

To express satisfaction with by humming.

3.

To flatter by approving; to cajole; to impose on; to humbug. (Colloq. & Low)

Hum v. i. (past & past part. hummed; pres. part. humming)

1.

To make a low, prolonged sound, like that of a bee in flight; to drone; to murmur; to buzz; as, a top hums. "Still humming on, their drowsy course they keep."

2.

To make a nasal sound, like that of the letter m prolonged, without opening the mouth, or articulating; to mumble in monotonous undertone; to drone. "The cloudy messenger turns me his back, And hums."

3.

To make an inarticulate sound, like h'm, through the nose in the process of speaking, from embarrassment or a affectation; to hem.

4.

To express satisfaction by a humming noise. "Here the spectators hummed." Note: Formerly the habit of audiences was to express gratification by humming and displeasure by hissing.

5.

To have the sensation of a humming noise; as, my head hums, a pathological condition.

interjection

Hum interj. Ahem; hem; an inarticulate sound uttered in a pause of speech implying doubt and deliberation.

See images of 'Hum'

Etymology of 'Hum'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Hum" Quotes from Famous Books

... reporting that neither sight nor sound had occurred during his watch to disturb him. We now began to feel really refreshed, and during the next hour some of the men in my watch actually found superfluous energy enough to hum under their breath a snatch or two of a forecastle song as they paced vigilantly to and fro over the short stretch of ground ...

— The Congo Rovers - A Story of the Slave Squadron • Harry Collingwood

... to flicker uncertainly as the wind that heralds the sunrise came fitfully up. The soft wet grass under their feet was flecked with little grayish-silver cobwebs, and here and there they heard the morning chirp of ground-nesting birds. As they went farther up the hill a hum of voices came from above; the voices of people, men and women, mingled and consonant like the voices of the birds, but with a certain tone of trouble and expectancy. Every now and then one individual voice or another would dominate the general ...

— Jersey Street and Jersey Lane - Urban and Suburban Sketches • H. C. Bunner

... could even detect from time to time a figure muffled up in a cloak passing to and fro across the window; while another, seated at a table, was occupied in writing. I turned into a narrow path which led into the little square of the village, and here, as I approached, the hum and murmur of voices announced a bivouac party. Stopping to ask what had been the result of the day, I learned that a tremendous attack had been made by the French in column upon the village, which was at first successful; but ...

— Charles O'Malley, The Irish Dragoon, Volume 2 (of 2) • Charles Lever

... entirely, and bearing south-east struck the Atlanta and Montgomery railroad not far distant from East Point. After injuring the railroad all that lay in its power, the division returned to camp, having enjoyed a drenching rain. Nothing more of interest passed off except the hum-drum picket firing, until the siege of ...

— History of the Eighty-sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, during its term of service • John R. Kinnear

... distressing affair, captain Willoughby," observed Joel, in his most jesuitical manner; "and to me it is altogether onaccountable! It does seem to me ag'in natur', for a man to desart his own household and hum' (Joel meant 'home') in the hour of trial. If a fellow- being wunt (Anglice 'wont') stand by his wife and children, he can hardly be expected to do ...

— Wyandotte • James Fenimore Cooper

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