Hum vs. Buzz: What's the Difference?

To emit a continuous low droning sound like that of the speech sound (m) when prolonged.

To make a low droning or vibrating sound like that of a bee.

To emit the continuous droning sound of a bee on the wing; buzz.

To talk, often excitedly, in low tones.

To give forth a low continuous drone blended of many sounds

To be abuzz; hum

To be in a state of busy activity.

To move quickly and busily; bustle.

To produce a tune without opening the lips or forming words.

To make a signal with a buzzer.

To sing (a tune) without opening the lips or forming words.

To cause to buzz.

(Baseball) To throw or pitch (a ball) very fast.

To utter in a rapid, low voice

The sound produced by humming.

(Informal) To fly low over

The act of humming.

To call or signal with a buzzer.

Used to indicate hesitation, surprise, or displeasure.

To make a telephone call to.

A hummed tune, i.e. created orally with lips closed.

To give a buzzcut to.

An often indistinct sound resembling human humming.

A vibrating, humming, or droning sound.

Busy activity, like the buzz of a beehive.

A low murmur

Unpleasant odour.

A telephone call

(dated) An imposition or hoax; humbug.

A state of pleasant intoxication, as from alcohol.

(obsolete) A kind of strong drink.

A state of stimulation or overstimulation, as from caffeine.

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.

Excited interest or attention

(intransitive) To make a sound from the vocal chords without pronouncing any real words, with one's lips closed.

Rumor; gossip

(transitive) To express by humming.

A buzzcut.

(intransitive) To drone like certain insects naturally do in motion, or sounding similarly

A continuous humming noise, as of bees; a confused murmur, as of general conversation in low tones.

(intransitive) To buzz, be busily active like a beehive

A whisper.

(intransitive) To produce low sounds which blend continuously

The audible friction of voiced consonants.

To reek, smell bad.

(informal) A rush or feeling of energy or excitement; a feeling of slight intoxication.

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

(informal) A telephone call or e-mail.

Syn of hmm: a noise indicating thought, consideration, &c.

(informal) Major topic of conversation; widespread rumor; information spread behind the scenes.

Syn of um: a noise indicating doubt, uncertainty, &c.

(uncountable) fizz-buzz

To make a low, prolonged sound, like that of a bee in flight; to drone; to murmur; to buzz; as, a top hums.

(intransitive) To make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound, like that made by bees with their wings.

To make a nasal sound, like that of the letter m prolonged, without opening the mouth, or articulating; to mumble in monotonous undertone; to drone.

(by extension) To utter a murmuring sound; to speak with a low, humming voice.

To make an inarticulate sound, like h'm, through the nose in the process of speaking, from embarrassment or a affectation; to hem.

Of a group of people, to talk about some interesting topic excitedly.

To express satisfaction by a humming noise.

To fly while making such a sound.

To have the sensation of a humming noise; as, my head hums, - a pathological condition.

(colloquial) To 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.

To sing with shut mouth; to murmur without articulation; to mumble; as, to hum a tune.

(transitive) To whisper; to communicate, as tales, in an undertone; to spread, as a report, by whispers or secretly.

To express satisfaction with by humming.

(transitive) To talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice.

To flatter by approving; to cajole; to impose on; to humbug.

(aviation) To fly at high speed and at a very low altitude over a specified area, as to make a surprise pass.

A low monotonous noise, as of bees in flight, of a swiftly revolving top, of a wheel, or the like; a drone; a buzz.

(transitive) To cut the hair in a close-cropped military style, or buzzcut.

Any inarticulate and buzzing sound

To drink to the bottom.

A buzz or murmur, as of approbation.

(transitive) To communicate with (a person) by means of a buzzer.

An imposition or hoax.

To make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound, like that made by bees with their wings. Hence: To utter a murmuring sound; to speak with a low, humming voice.

An inarticulate nasal sound or murmur, like h'm, uttered by a speaker in pause from embarrassment, affectation, etc.

To sound forth by buzzing.

A kind of strong drink formerly used.

To whisper; to communicate, as tales, in an under tone; to spread, as report, by whispers, or secretly.

Ahem; hem; an inarticulate sound uttered in a pause of speech implying doubt and deliberation.

To talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice.

The state of being or appearing to be actively engaged in an activity;

To sound with a "buzz".

An Islamic fundamentalist group in Pakistan that fought the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s; now operates as a terrorist organization primarily in Kashmir and seeks Kashmir's accession by Pakistan

A continuous, humming noise, as of bees; a confused murmur, as of general conversation in low tones, or of a general expression of surprise or approbation.

A humming noise;

A whisper; a report spread secretly or cautiously.

Sing with closed lips;

The audible friction of voice consonants.

Be noisy with activity;

Sound of rapid vibration;

Sound with a monotonous hum

A confusion of activity and gossip;

Make a low continuous sound;

Make a buzzing sound;

Fly low;

Be noisy with activity;

Call with a buzzer;