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Hum vs. Buzz: What's the Difference?

Hum and Buzz Definitions

Hum

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

Buzz

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

Hum

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

Buzz

To talk, often excitedly, in low tones.

Hum

To give forth a low continuous drone blended of many sounds
The avenue hummed with traffic.
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Buzz

To be abuzz; hum
The department was buzzing with rumors.

Hum

To be in a state of busy activity.

Buzz

To move quickly and busily; bustle.

Hum

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

Buzz

To make a signal with a buzzer.
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Hum

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

Buzz

To cause to buzz.

Hum

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

Buzz

To utter in a rapid, low voice
"What is he buzzing in my ears?" (Robert Browning).

Hum

The sound produced by humming.

Buzz

(Informal) To fly low over
The plane buzzed the control tower.

Hum

The act of humming.

Buzz

To call or signal with a buzzer.

Hum

Used to indicate hesitation, surprise, or displeasure.

Buzz

To make a telephone call to.

Hum

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

Buzz

To give a buzzcut to.

Hum

An often indistinct sound resembling human humming.
They could hear a hum coming from the kitchen, and found the dishwasher on.

Buzz

A vibrating, humming, or droning sound.

Hum

Busy activity, like the buzz of a beehive.

Buzz

A low murmur
A buzz of talk.

Hum

Unpleasant odour.

Buzz

A telephone call
Give me a buzz at nine.

Hum

(dated) An imposition or hoax; humbug.

Buzz

A state of pleasant intoxication, as from alcohol.

Hum

(obsolete) A kind of strong drink.

Buzz

A state of stimulation or overstimulation, as from caffeine.

Hum

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.

Buzz

Excited interest or attention
"The biggest buzz surrounds the simplest antioxidants.

Hum

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

Buzz

Rumor; gossip
The latest buzz from Hollywood.

Hum

(transitive) To express by humming.
To hum a tune
The team ominously hummed “We shall overcome” as they came back onto the field after the break.

Buzz

A buzzcut.

Hum

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

Buzz

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

Hum

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

Buzz

A whisper.

Hum

(intransitive) To produce low sounds which blend continuously

Buzz

The audible friction of voiced consonants.

Hum

To reek, smell bad.
This room really hums — have you ever tried spring cleaning, mate?

Buzz

(informal) A 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.

Hum

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

Buzz

(informal) A telephone call or e-mail.

Hum

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

Buzz

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

Hum

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

Buzz

(uncountable) fizz-buzz

Hum

To make a low, prolonged sound, like that of a bee in flight; to drone; to murmur; to buzz; as, a top hums.
Still humming on, their drowsy course they keep.

Buzz

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

Hum

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.
The cloudy messenger turns me his back,And hums.

Buzz

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

Hum

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

Buzz

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

Hum

To express satisfaction by a humming noise.
Here the spectators hummed.

Buzz

To fly while making such a sound.
A fly was buzzing past me.

Hum

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

Buzz

(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.

Hum

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

Buzz

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

Hum

To express satisfaction with by humming.

Buzz

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

Hum

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

Buzz

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

Hum

A low monotonous noise, as of bees in flight, of a swiftly revolving top, of a wheel, or the like; a drone; a buzz.
The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums.

Buzz

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

Hum

Any inarticulate and buzzing sound
But 'midst the crowd, the hum, the shock of men.

Buzz

To drink to the bottom.

Hum

A buzz or murmur, as of approbation.

Buzz

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

Hum

An imposition or hoax.

Buzz

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.
Like a wasp is buzzed, and stung him.
However these disturbers of our peaceBuzz in the people's ears.

Hum

An inarticulate nasal sound or murmur, like h'm, uttered by a speaker in pause from embarrassment, affectation, etc.
These shrugs, these hums and ha's.

Buzz

To sound forth by buzzing.

Hum

A kind of strong drink formerly used.

Buzz

To whisper; to communicate, as tales, in an under tone; to spread, as report, by whispers, or secretly.
I will buzz abroad such propheciesThat Edward shall be fearful of his life.

Hum

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

Buzz

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

Hum

The state of being or appearing to be actively engaged in an activity;
They manifested all the busyness of a pack of beavers
There is a constant hum of military preparation

Buzz

To sound with a "buzz".

Hum

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

Buzz

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.
I found the whole room in a buzz of politics.
There is a buzz all around regarding the sermon.

Hum

A humming noise;
The hum of distant traffic

Buzz

A whisper; a report spread secretly or cautiously.
There's a certain buzzOf a stolen marriage.

Hum

Sing with closed lips;
She hummed a melody

Buzz

The audible friction of voice consonants.

Hum

Be noisy with activity;
This office is buzzing with activity

Buzz

Sound of rapid vibration;
The buzz of a bumble bee

Hum

Sound with a monotonous hum

Buzz

A confusion of activity and gossip;
The buzz of excitement was so great that a formal denial was issued

Hum

Make a low continuous sound;
The refrigerator is humming

Buzz

Make a buzzing sound;
Bees were buzzing around the hive

Buzz

Fly low;
Planes buzzed the crowds in the square

Buzz

Be noisy with activity;
This office is buzzing with activity

Buzz

Call with a buzzer;
He buzzed the servant

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