From Middle English *bussen (suggested by Middle English bussyng (“buzzing”)), of onomatopoeic origin. Cognate with Scots bizz (“to buzz”). Compare Middle English bunning (“buzzing”), Middle English hossing (“buzzing”), Middle English bissen (“to hush”).
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A continuous humming noise, as of bees; a confused murmur, as of general conversation in low tones.
In the steady buzz of flies the homeward-bound agent was lying flushed and insensible[.] 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 209:
This probably explains the interest in UVB-76, or “The Buzzer,” a mysterious shortwave radio station that has been operating since 1982 and whose output consists of a monotonous buzz repeated 24 hours a day, occasionally interrupted by a Russian voice. 2012, Ripley's Believe It Or Not! (compiler), Ripley's Unbelievable Stories For Guys:
Immediately there was a ringing and a singing in the hills, and then a whispering and a lisping and a whiz and a buzz all about him, for the little people were now some whirling round and round in the dance, and others sporting and tumbling about in the moonshine, and playing a thousand merry pranks and tricks. 1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 289:
(countable, uncountable) A whisper.
(countable, uncountable) The audible friction of voiced consonants.
(countable, informal, uncountable) A rush or feeling of energy or excitement; a feeling of slight intoxication.
Still feeling the buzz from the coffee, he pushed through the last of the homework.
(countable, informal, uncountable) A telephone call or e-mail.
Now, don't waste time, give us a buzz -- quick! 825-4703 or 265-7881. 1983 April 9, “Clearly Womyn's Space (classified advertisement)”, in Gay Community News, page 15:
(countable, informal, uncountable) Major topic of conversation; widespread rumor; information spread behind the scenes.
Mr. Hall? The buzz on Christian is that his parents have joint custody, so he'll be spending one semester in Chicago and one semester here. 1995, Amy Heckerling, Clueless, spoken by Cher (Alicia Silverstone):
I wasn't performing with Pimp and Smoove that much no more, but I had a solo deal with Ruthless Rap and a brand new mixtape that was creating a big buzz. 2006, Noire [pseudonym], Thug-A-Licious: An Urban Erotic Tale, New York, N.Y.: One World, Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 103:
In Detroit, the buzz is that he's too nice a guy, unwilling to impose draconian job cuts at the risk of angering the UAW. 2006 September 6, Daren Fonda, “Ford Motor's New Chief: "I Think It's a Tough Situation"”, in Time:
Allen Gregory DeLongpre: Who's he?
Patrick: He's only the most popular kid in school.
Allen Gregory: Ah, the two heavyweights finally meet. Sure you're tired of all the buzz. Allen Gregory DeLongpre. 2011 Allen Gregory, "Pilot" (season 1, episode 1)
(uncountable) Synonym of fizz-buzz (“counting game”).
tr heyecan (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · pl gwar (continuous humming noise) · tr cızıltı (audible friction of voice consonants) · it brusio (continuous humming noise) · eo zumo (continuous humming noise) · fi mutina (continuous humming noise) · pt ligação (informal: telephone call) · de Gerücht (information spread behind the scenes) · tr coşku (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · ota طنطنه (continuous humming noise) · de Taumel (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · it euforia (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · it bisbiglio (continuous humming noise) · ja ブーン (continuous humming noise) · de Gerede (information spread behind the scenes) · he זמזום (continuous humming noise) · id dengung (continuous humming noise) · sv signal (informal: telephone call) · lv sanoņa (continuous humming noise) · wa zûnmint (continuous humming noise) · de Rollen (audible friction of voice consonants) · wa telefonaedje (informal: telephone call) · tr heves (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · nl zoem (continuous humming noise) · mi rangorango (continuous humming noise) · bg жужене (continuous humming noise) · ru гуде́ние (continuous humming noise) · sq zukamë (continuous humming noise) · it ronzio (continuous humming noise) · nl opwinding (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · fi pirautus (informal: telephone call) · de Raunen (continuous humming noise) · grc ζίγγος (continuous humming noise) · ltg sons (continuous humming noise) · ota زر (continuous humming noise) · sq zukatje (continuous humming noise) · ru звоно́к (informal: telephone call) · tr vız (continuous humming noise) · fi huuma (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · fi kohu (information spread behind the scenes) · tl buhag (continuous humming noise) · pl faza (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · fr coup de fil (informal: telephone call) · ru задор (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · de Surren (audible friction of voice consonants) · pl wrzawa (continuous humming noise) · es entusiasmo (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · de Euphorie (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · es zumbido (continuous humming noise) · de Schwung (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · es zurrido (continuous humming noise) · jv swara mbengung (continuous humming noise) · nl roes (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · sq gumëzhimë (continuous humming noise) · mk брмчење (continuous humming noise) · vi vù vù (continuous humming noise) · tr şevk (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · tr mırıltı (continuous humming noise) · bg бръмчене (continuous humming noise) · fi surina (continuous humming noise) · de Rausch (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · ru гул (continuous humming noise) · es suspiro (information spread behind the scenes) · de Anruf (informal: telephone call) · ru молва́ (information spread behind the scenes) · tr cızırtı (audible friction of voice consonants) · vi vo vo (continuous humming noise) · fi sorina (audible friction of voice consonants) · fi huhu (information spread behind the scenes) · tr telefon konuşması (informal: telephone call) · sv rus (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · bg мълва (information spread behind the scenes) · it ebbrezza (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · it squillo (informal: telephone call) · de Gemurmel (continuous humming noise) · cmn 嗡 (continuous humming noise) · fi ininä (continuous humming noise) · it pettegolezzo (information spread behind the scenes) · fi potku (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · fi kilautus (informal: telephone call) · bg слух (information spread behind the scenes) · fi humina (continuous humming noise) · pt zumbido (continuous humming noise) · tr cızıltı (continuous humming noise) · it sibilo (continuous humming noise) · de Gemunkel (information spread behind the scenes) · wa zûnaedje (continuous humming noise) · it mormorio (continuous humming noise) · pl bzyczenie (continuous humming noise) · az vızıltı (continuous humming noise) · tr söylenti (information spread behind the scenes) · he שמועה (information spread behind the scenes) · es interés (rush of feeling of energy or excitement) · ltg saniešona (continuous humming noise) · wa zûna (information spread behind the scenes) · nl belletje (informal: telephone call) · mk зуење (continuous humming noise) · tr cızırtı (continuous humming noise) · tr vızıltı (continuous humming noise) · ru слу́хи (information spread behind the scenes) · cmn 嗡嗡 (continuous humming noise) · de Summen (continuous humming noise) · ms dengung (continuous humming noise) · de Brummen (continuous humming noise) · cs bzukot (continuous humming noise) · ru жужжа́ние (continuous humming noise) · sv surr (continuous humming noise)
From Middle English *bussen (suggested by Middle English bussyng (“buzzing”)), of onomatopoeic origin. Cognate with Scots bizz (“to buzz”). Compare Middle English bunning (“buzzing”), Middle English hossing (“buzzing”), Middle English bissen (“to hush”).
Meanings
(intransitive) To make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound, like that made by bees with their wings.
So that now the universe has escaped from the pin which was pushed through it, like an impaled fly vainly buzzing: now that the multiple universe flies its own complicated course quite free, and hasn't got any hub, we can hope also to escape. 1922, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, “The Holy Family”, in Fantasia of the Unconscious, New York, N.Y.: Thomas Seltzer, →OCLC, page 14:
Ah! the singing, fatal arrow, / Like a wasp it buzzed, and stung him [a roebuck]! 1855 November 10, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Hiawatha’s Childhood”, in The Song of Hiawatha, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC, page 47:
(broadly, intransitive) To make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound, like that made by bees with their wings. ▸ To utter a murmuring sound; to speak with a low, humming voice.
However these disturbers of our peace / Buzz in the people's ears. c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:
(intransitive) To make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound, like that made by bees with their wings. ▸ Of a group of people, to talk about some interesting topic excitedly.
But I tell you this has set all London buzzing. The old man is where he likes to be, with a pin-point limelight right on his hairy old head. 1928 February 25 – March 3, Arthur Conan Doyle, “When the World Screamed”, in The Professor Challenger Stories […], London: John Murray, […], published [1952], →OCLC, page 570:
(intransitive, of an insect) To make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound, like that made by bees with their wings. ▸ To fly while making such a sound.
The flies, lethargic with the autumn, were beginning to buzz into the room. 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, Westminster [London]: Archibald Constable and Company, […], →OCLC:
A fly was buzzing past me.
(colloquial) To show a high level of activity and haste, energization or excitement, to be busy as a bee in one’s actions but perhaps mentally charged.
The room was buzzing with excitement.
(transitive) To whisper; to communicate, as tales, in an undertone; to spread, as a report, by whispers or secretly.
I will buzz abroad such prophecies / That Edward shall be fearful of his life. c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene vi]:
(transitive) To talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice.
(also, figuratively, transitive) To fly at high speed and at a very low altitude over (an area), as to make a surprise pass.
[…] an asteroid a mere 15-20 metres across exploded with the force of a medium-sized atom bomb over Chelyabinsk, in Russia, and another, much larger one buzzed Earth a few hours later. 2013, The Economist, Stopping asteroid strikes: Defenders of the Earth:
buzzing around in small cars that dodged through traffic
(transitive) To cut (the hair) in a close-cropped military style, or buzzcut.
Deacon said, “You used to beg me to let you buzz your hair when you were little.” “And then I grew up and realized how awful you looked when you buzzed yours.” 2012, Ellen Hartman, Out of Bounds, page 130:
(transitive) To throw swiftly.
I have mentioned her deft hand with a stone — well, as soon as our backs were turned she buzzed a stone to clip Joe's ear. 2013, Felix Gilman, The Rise of Ransom City:
(archaic, transitive) To drink to the bottom.
He buzzed the bottle with such a hearty good will as settled the fate of another, which Soapey rang for as a matter of course. There was but the rejected one, which however Spigot put into a different decanter and brought in […] 1849, The New Monthly Magazine and Universal Register:
(transitive) To communicate with (a person) by means of a buzzer.
Then one day my secretary buzzed me and said Frank Sinatra was on the phone. When I picked up the phone it was the Chief who played dumb and would not admit that he said he was Frank Sinatra. 2012, Steven Joseph Sinopoli, The Seventh House, page 66:
sv surra (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · mk брмчи (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · pt zumbir (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · izh pörissä (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · de rauschen (aviation: to fly at high speed and at a low altitude) · tr vız geçmek (aviation: to fly at high speed and at a low altitude) · ca brumir (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · sv ina (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · mi rorohū (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · mi tamumu (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · de kippen (to drink to the bottom) · tr vınlamak (aviation: to fly at high speed and at a low altitude) · bg нашепвам (to communicate, as tales, in an undertone) · eo zumi (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · sa गुञ्जति (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · he זמזם (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · de brabbeln (to talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice) · mi wheowheo (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · de raunen (to communicate, as tales, in an undertone) · la bombiō (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · bg жужа (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · fr raser (aviation: to fly at high speed and at a low altitude) · jv mbengung (krama/ngoko) (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · pl bąkać (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · gl zoar (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · es zumbar (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · tr vızıldamak (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · de brummen (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · de verbreiten (rumour) (to communicate, as tales, in an undertone) · es zurrir (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · fr bourdonner (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · hu stuccol (to cut the hair in a close-cropped style) · mi tara (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · fi säpistä (to show a high level of activity and haste) · mi rangorango (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · de zischen (aviation: to fly at high speed and at a low altitude) · tr mırıldamak (to talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice) · de rauschen (to show a high level of activity and haste) · de leeren (to drink to the bottom) · fi surista (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · fi inistä (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · de stürzen (to drink to the bottom) · es comentar (to communicate, as tales, in an undertone) · mi hohō (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · sv lågsniffa (aviation: to fly at high speed and at a low altitude) · fi kuiskuttaa (to communicate, as tales, in an undertone) · pl bzyknąć (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · sq zukat (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · cs bzučet (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · pl bzyczeć (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · ru жужжа́ть (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · de düsen (to show a high level of activity and haste) · tr mırıldamak (to communicate, as tales, in an undertone) · tr cızırdamak (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · fi ajaa siiliksi (to cut the hair in a close-cropped style) · fi tyhjentää (to drink to the bottom) · fi kuiskia (to communicate, as tales, in an undertone) · fi supista (to talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice) · mi wheo (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · fi supattaa (to talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice) · fi touhuta (to show a high level of activity and haste) · roa-gal brunder (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · bg бръмча (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · de murmeln (to talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice) · tr vızlamak (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · ro bâzâi (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · ru шепта́ться (to communicate, as tales, in an undertone) · fi siristä (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · sq gumëzhij (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · mk зуи (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · de schwirren (to show a high level of activity and haste) · pl bąknąć (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · id berdenging (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · fi rynnäköidä (aviation: to fly at high speed and at a low altitude) · ca crespar (to cut the hair in a close-cropped style) · ru гуде́ть (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · pt zunir (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · de trimmen (to cut the hair in a close-cropped style) · ca brunzir (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · fi sählätä (to show a high level of activity and haste) · fi kuiskutella (to communicate, as tales, in an undertone) · ru лете́ть на бре́ющем полёте (aviation: to fly at high speed and at a low altitude) · de anpiepsen (to communicate by means of a buzzer) · pl bzykać (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · nl zoemen (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · es abejorrear (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · tr cızıldamak (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · fi juoda pohjaan (to drink to the bottom) · de brummeln (to talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice) · de surren (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · ar طَنَّ (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · sk bzučať (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · fr tondre (to cut the hair in a close-cropped style) · uk дзижча́ти (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · hu zümmög (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · de summen (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · id berdengung (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · nrf bourdonner (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound) · tr fısıldamak (to communicate, as tales, in an undertone) · uk гуді́ти (to make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound)