HUMMING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does humming mean? 

• HUMMING (noun)
  The noun HUMMING has 2 senses:

1. a humming noise

2. the act of singing with closed lips

  Familiarity information: HUMMING used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HUMMING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A humming noise

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

hum; humming

Context example:

the hum of distant traffic

Hypernyms ("humming" is a kind of...):

noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))

Derivation:

hum (make a low continuous sound)

hum (be noisy with activity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of singing with closed lips

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("humming" is a kind of...):

singing; vocalizing (the act of singing vocal music)

Derivation:

hum (sing with closed lips)

 Context examples 

“I beg your pardon, Mr. Traddles,” said Mr. Micawber, with the old roll in his voice, as he checked himself in humming a soft tune.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He got up instantly, went quite to the other end of the walk, and when he came back he was humming a tune.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

“Why, how now, good mother,” said the princess; “what are you doing there?” “Spinning,” said the old lady, and nodded her head, humming a tune, while buzz! went the wheel.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Visited Renfield very early, before the attendant went his rounds. Found him up and humming a tune.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

No animals nor humming insects broke the silence.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

He was almost humming the words, and it dawned upon him that the other reminded him of the trade wind, of the Northeast Trade, steady, and cool, and strong.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I paced up and down the room, humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He looked sober in spite of his humming, till he went to the window to turn the hyacinth bulbs toward the sun, and stroke the cat, who received him like an old friend.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

One cut with my sea-gully and the HISPANIOLA would go humming down the tide.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

A battery-operated device that makes a humming sound.

(Electrolarynx, NCI Dictionary)