humming

Verb

hum (third-person singular simple present hums, present participle humming, simple past and past participle hummed)

1. (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.

   Synonyms:

   croon

2. (transitive) To express by humming.
   • to hum a tune

   Synonyms:

   buzz, croon

3. (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

   Synonyms:

   bumble, buzz, whirr

4. (intransitive) To buzz, be busily active like a beehive.
   • The streets were humming with activity.

   Synonyms:

   bustle, buzz, hustle

5. (intransitive) To produce low sounds which blend continuously.
6. (UK, slang) To reek, smell bad.
   • This room really hums — have you ever tried spring cleaning, mate?

   Synonyms:

   funk, stink, honk, niff, pong, reek, smell, stink to high heaven, whiff

See all 18 meanings of hum