From Middle English hummen (“to hum, buzz, drone, make a murmuring sound to cover embarrassment”); akin to Dutch hommelen (“to bumble, buzz”), dialectal Dutch hommen (“to buzz, hum”), Middle High German hummen (“to hum”), probably ultimately of imitative origin.
Meanings
Synonym of hmm: a noise indicating thought, consideration, &c.
Hum! hum! What's all this? 1890 February, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “The Baker Street Irregulars”, in The Sign of Four (Standard Library), London: Spencer Blackett […], →OCLC, page 157:
Synonym of um: a noise indicating doubt, uncertainty, &c.
Ah, now this is why we must proceed with great circumspection. They were both, hum, “put out” themselves. 1991 September, Stephen Fry, chapter 1, in The Liar, London: Heinemann, →ISBN, section I, page 19:
From Middle English hummen (“to hum, buzz, drone, make a murmuring sound to cover embarrassment”); akin to Dutch hommelen (“to bumble, buzz”), dialectal Dutch hommen (“to buzz, hum”), Middle High German hummen (“to hum”), probably ultimately of imitative origin.
Meanings
A hummed tune, i.e. created orally with lips closed.
An often indistinct sound resembling human humming.
the shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
They could hear a hum coming from the kitchen and found the dishwasher on.
Busy activity, like the buzz of a beehive.
(UK, slang) Unpleasant odour.
(dated) An imposition or hoax; humbug.
(obsolete) A kind of strong drink.
you do provide me hum enough , And lour to bouse with c. 1622, John Fletcher, Philip Massinger [et al.?], “Beggars Bush”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
(with article) A phenomenon, or collection of phenomena, involving widespread reports of a persistent and invasive low-frequency humming, rumbling, or droning noise not audible to all people.
There is a range of theories from farm or factory machinery to conspiracy theories such as flying saucers. And yet, "the hum" remains an unsolved case. 2011 June 13, “Who, What, Why: Why is 'the hum' such a mystery?”, in BBC News:
mi ngī (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · nl gebrom (tune created orally with lips closed) · ru жужжа́ние (tune created orally with lips closed) · fi hyrinä (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · he המהום (tune created orally with lips closed) · ar هَمْهَمَة (tune created orally with lips closed) · ota طنطنه (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · ko 콧노래 (tune created orally with lips closed) · fi pörinä (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · ru жужжа́ние (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · gl cantaruxar (tune created orally with lips closed) · fi surina (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · eo zumo (tune created orally with lips closed) · fi hyminä (tune created orally with lips closed) · ca taral·la (tune created orally with lips closed) · mi rangorango (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · fi porina (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · mi momi (tune created orally with lips closed) · de Summen (tune created orally with lips closed) · he המיה (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · he המולה (busy activity) · fi hyminä (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · ja 鼻歌 (tune created orally with lips closed) · it ronzio (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · ga drantán (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · bg бръмчене (busy activity) · fi hyrinä (tune created orally with lips closed) · ja ハミング (tune created orally with lips closed) · mi tāwara (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · ko 허밍 (tune created orally with lips closed) · he המהום (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · sh pjevušenje (tune created orally with lips closed) · ota زر (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · nl geneurie (tune created orally with lips closed) · nl gebrom (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · he המיה (busy activity) · mi hāmumumumu (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · mi rarā (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · es tarareo (tune created orally with lips closed) · fi hyörinä (busy activity) · pt cantarolar (tune created orally with lips closed) · mi tāwara (busy activity) · mi tāwara (indistinct sound resembling human humming) · fi hurina (indistinct sound resembling human humming)
From Middle English hummen (“to hum, buzz, drone, make a murmuring sound to cover embarrassment”); akin to Dutch hommelen (“to bumble, buzz”), dialectal Dutch hommen (“to buzz, hum”), Middle High German hummen (“to hum”), probably ultimately of imitative origin.
Meanings
(intransitive) To make a sound from the vocal cords without pronouncing any real words, with one's lips closed.
We are humming happily along with the music.
(transitive) To express by humming.
to hum a tune
The team hummed “We Shall Overcome” as they came back onto the field after the break.
(intransitive) To drone like certain insects naturally do in motion, or sounding similarly.
The leaves of the foreſt were loaded with manna, pure amber dropped from every bough, honey diſtilled from the rifted rock, and the humming bee, drunk with joy, ſtrayed from flower to flower, forgetful of his burſting cells. 1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page iv:
A slight gloom fell upon the table. Jacob was helping himself to jam; the postman was talking to Rebecca in the kitchen; there was a bee humming at the yellow flower which nodded at the open window. 1922 October 26, Virginia Woolf, chapter 2, in Jacob’s Room, Richmond, London: […] Leonard & Virginia Woolf at the Hogarth Press, →OCLC; republished London: The Hogarth Press, 1960, →OCLC:
(intransitive) To buzz, be busily active like a beehive.
The streets were humming with activity.
(intransitive) To produce low sounds which blend continuously.
(UK, slang) To reek, smell bad.
This room really hums — have you ever tried spring cleaning, mate?
(UK, dated, slang, transitive) To flatter by approving; to cajole; to deceive or impose upon; to humbug.
nl neuriën (to make sound with lips closed) · bg мънкам (to produce low sounds which blend continuously) · cmn 哼唱 (to make sound with lips closed) · ar هَمْهَمَ (to make sound with lips closed) · cmn 哼 (to make sound with lips closed) · nl brommen (to make sound with lips closed) · he זִמְזֵם (to make sound with lips closed) · no nynna (to make sound with lips closed) · es canturriar (to make sound with lips closed) · es cantusar (to make sound with lips closed) · bg бръмча (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion) · hu dúdol (to make sound with lips closed) · bg воня (to smell bad) · fr bourdonner (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion) · fi haista (to smell bad) · ru жужжа́ть (to make sound with lips closed) · nl stinken (to smell bad) · izh pörissä (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion) · it sibilare (to make sound with lips closed) · fi hymistellä (to flatter by approving) · fr fourmiller (to be busily active like a beehive) · ar دَنْدَنَ (to make sound with lips closed) · sv gnola (to make sound with lips closed) · sa गुञ्जति (to make sound with lips closed) · it bofonchiare (to make sound with lips closed) · fi hymistä (to make sound with lips closed) · eo zumi (to make sound with lips closed) · fi surista (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion) · az mızıldamaq (to make sound with lips closed) · es tararear (to make sound with lips closed) · el βουίζω (to express by humming) · it brontolare (to make sound with lips closed) · es jeder (to smell bad) · sh pjevušiti (to make sound with lips closed) · sv nynna (to make sound with lips closed) · grc τερετίζω (to make sound with lips closed) · fi hyräillä (to make sound with lips closed) · es canturrear (to make sound with lips closed) · fi hurista (to produce low sounds which blend continuously) · tr mırıldanmak (to make sound with lips closed) · ko 콧노래를 부르다 (to express by humming) · pt cantarolar (to make sound with lips closed) · ca taral·lejar (to express by humming) · it ronzare (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion) · it canticchiare (to make sound with lips closed) · ca zumzejar (to make sound with lips closed) · fi hyräillä (to express by humming) · it mormorare (to make sound with lips closed) · mi momi (to express by humming) · pt trautear (to make sound with lips closed) · mi tamūtamū (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion) · tr vızıldamak (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion) · ms senandung (to make sound with lips closed) · mi wheo (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion) · es apestar (to smell bad) · ro fredona (to make sound with lips closed) · cs broukat si (to make sound with lips closed) · mi tamūtamū (to make sound with lips closed) · fi hämätä (to deceive) · mi tamumu (to make sound with lips closed) · kl niperujoorpoq (to make sound with lips closed) · cs bzučet (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion) · fi kuhista (to be busily active like a beehive) · mi hamumu (to express by humming) · de summen (to make sound with lips closed) · ne गुनगुनाउनु (to make sound with lips closed) · fi surista (to produce low sounds which blend continuously) · ms rinai (to make sound with lips closed) · ru жужжать (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion) · mi ngī (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion) · fi hyristä (to make sound with lips closed) · nl brommen (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion) · is raula (to make sound with lips closed) · fr fredonner (to make sound with lips closed) · nrf monmer (to make sound with lips closed) · mi mapu (to produce low sounds which blend continuously) · it canterellare (to make sound with lips closed) · el μουρμουρίζω (to make sound with lips closed) · az vızıldamaq (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion) · pl nucić (to make sound with lips closed) · mi wheowheo (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion) · es cantusear (to make sound with lips closed) · mi tamumu (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion) · nl zoemen (to drone like certain insects naturally do in motion)
hum en · NOUN · etymology 2
Pronunciation
/hʌm/ (Singapore)
[häm(˦)] (Singapore)
Etymology
Borrowed from Hokkien 蚶 (ham).
Meanings
(Malaysia, Singapore, informal, uncountable) Synonym of see hum (“blood cockles, ark clams”).