buzz

plural buzzes

1. countableuncountableA 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

   2 more examples

   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

   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

2. countableuncountableA whisper.
3. countableuncountableThe audible friction of voiced consonants.
4. countableinformaluncountableA 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.

5. countableinformaluncountableA 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

6. countableinformaluncountableMajor topic of conversation; widespread rumor; information spread behind the scenes.

   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

   3 more examples

   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

   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)

7. uncountableSynonym of fizz-buzz (“counting game”).

   Synonyms: fizz-buzz

present singular third person buzzes · participle present buzzing · participle past buzzed · past buzzed

1. intransitiveTo make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound, like that made by bees with their wings.

   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

   1 more example

   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

   1. broadlyintransitiveTo 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]

   2. intransitiveOf 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

   3. intransitiveTo fly while making such a sound.

      A fly was buzzing past me.

      1 more example

      The flies, lethargic with the autumn, were beginning to buzz into the room.

      1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, Westminster [London]: Archibald Constable and Company, […], →OCLC

2. colloquialTo 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.

3. transitiveTo 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]

4. transitiveTo talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice.
5. alsofigurativelytransitiveaeronauticsTo fly at high speed and at a very low altitude over (an area), as to make a surprise pass.

   buzzing around in small cars that dodged through traffic

   1 more example

   […] 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

6. transitiveTo 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

7. transitiveTo 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

8. archaictransitiveTo 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

9. transitiveTo 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

1. A male given name, pet form of Busby