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hum(4) (iou)



hum verb1. Infl. -mm-. LME.
[Imit.: cf. BUM verb1, Middle High German (German dial.) hummen, German summen, brummen, Dutch brommen.]
verb intrans. Utter 'hum' in hesitation, embarrassment, etc. Chiefly in hum and ha, hum and haw. LME.
J. Kelman They hummed and hawed and I could tell they weren't too interested.
verb intrans. Make a low continuous non-sibilant sound. LME.
E. L. Doctorow The car moved through the city, its motor humming in the warm afternoon. H. Bascom Bullets like supersonic bees now hum through the darkness.
b. verb intrans. Emit or produce an indistinct noise; colloq. be in a state of activity. M18.
J. Conrad The growling voices hummed steady amongst bursts of laughter. Times There was an initial shock..but things are humming at the Mirror now.
verb trans. & intrans. Sing (a tune etc.) with closed lips and without articulation. L15.
W. Wharton Doris starts humming to the music. E. O'Brien They glide through their own hallways, whistling or humming a familiar, guarded tune.
b. verb trans. Express approval or disapproval of (a person or thing) by humming. M17-M18.
c. verb trans. Bring (a person) into a specified state by humming. E19.
J. Clare The busy bee hath humm'd himself to rest.
verb intrans. Smell unpleasant, stink. E20.
Daily Telegraph When the wind drops this stuff really hums.