hum

plural hums

1. A hummed tune, i.e. created orally with lips closed.
2. An often indistinct sound resembling human humming.

   They could hear a hum coming from the kitchen and found the dishwasher on.

   1 more example

   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]

3. Busy activity, like the buzz of a beehive.
4. UKslangUnpleasant odour.
5. datedAn imposition or hoax; humbug.
6. obsoleteA 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)

7. 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

present singular third person hums · participle present humming · participle past hummed · past hummed

1. intransitiveTo 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.

   Synonyms: croon

2. transitiveTo express by humming.

   to hum a tune

   1 more example

   The team hummed “We Shall Overcome” as they came back onto the field after the break.

   Synonyms: buzz, croon

3. intransitiveTo drone like certain insects naturally do in motion, or sounding similarly.

   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

   1 more example

   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

   Synonyms: bumble, buzz, whirr

4. intransitiveTo buzz, be busily active like a beehive.

   The streets were humming with activity.

   Synonyms: bustle, buzz, hustle

5. intransitiveTo produce low sounds which blend continuously.
6. UKslangTo reek, smell bad.

   This room really hums — have you ever tried spring cleaning, mate?

   Synonyms: funk, stink, funk, honk, niff, pong, reek, smell

7. UKdatedslangtransitiveTo flatter by approving; to cajole; to deceive or impose upon; to humbug.

   Synonyms: blandish, inveigle, sweet-talk, blandander, blandish, butter up, cajole, sweeten

1. 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

   Synonyms: hmm

2. 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

   Synonyms: um

1. MalaysiaSingaporeinformaluncountableSynonym of see hum (“blood cockles, ark clams”).

   Synonyms: see hum

1. A town in the central part of Istria, northwest Croatia, 7 km from Roč.

plural HUMs

1. abbreviationinitialismbridgeInitialism of highly unusual method: any of a class of contract bridge bidding systems that require advance preparation to contend with, and are usually restricted to the highest levels of tournament play.