hum
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++hum1 /hʌm/ ●○○ verb (hummed, humming) 1 [intransitive, transitive]SING to sing a tune by making a continuous sound with your lips closed 哼（曲子）hum to yourself Tony was humming to himself as he drove along. 托尼边开车边哼着曲子。 He began to hum a tune. 他开始哼唱一支曲子。2 [intransitive]SOUND to make a low continuous sound 发出嗡嗡声 Machines hummed on the factory floor. 机器在车间里嗡嗡作响。3 [intransitive]BUSY PLACE if a place hums, it is full of activity – use this to show approval 〔场所〕忙碌，活跃〔含褒义〕 → busy By nine o'clock, the restaurant was humming. 到9点钟时，餐馆里开始忙碌起来。hum with The streets were humming with life. 大街上熙熙攘攘。4. hum and haw British English to take a long time deciding what to say or do 支吾，吞吞吐吐；迟疑 → hesitate SYN American English hem and haw→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
hum• Low interest rates make borrowing easier and keep the economy humming.• Musicals are uplifting, and you are sure to leave the theatre humming a cheerful tune.• The volume of the world was turned up so the air molecules hummed a deep bass note.• The windows of the car were open and they hummed along at a steady cruising speed meeting very little traffic.• Carol hummed along to the song on the radio.• The computer was still on, humming away.• Limbs and trunks rubbed together and intermingled, humming deep tunes like giant bass fiddles.• Quietly, under my breath, I began humming Handel.• Hum of black machinery, humming hate and death and other hospital secrets.• Sewing machines hummed on the factory floor.• The refrigerator hummed softly in the corner.• She hummed softly to herself as she worked.hum to yourself• I put my pyjamas on and hum to myself.• I run home, skipping and humming to myself.• Robot tenders puttered briskly through the water, humming to themselves.• Tony was humming to himself as he drove along but Freddie sat silent, sulking over the raid that never was.• He was humming to himself as he drove - occasionally contributing to the conversation - a placid, contented family man.• He hummed to himself as they continued northwards.• She will lie in the soapsuds, humming to herself, till two in the morning.hum2 noun [singular] 1 SOUNDa low continuous sound 嗡嗡声；低沉而持续的嘈杂声hum of the distant hum of traffic 远处嘈杂的车流声► see thesaurus at sound2. hum of excitement/approval etc the sound of people talking because they are excited etc 兴奋/赞同等的嗡嗡声Examples from the Corpus
hum• the distant hum of traffic• There was a low hum of conversation.• The electric light was burning and mixers and other equipment were making a steady hum.• The steady hum of the drilling rigs and the rough growls of heavy machinery moving on the road smear the coastal quiet.• the hum of the air conditioning• The hum in the air was from pylons; a cold and nervous electrical hum.• Soft, now what be this hum?Origin hum1 (1300-1400) From the soundcontinuous tune to by a Corpus a sing making
hum
hum1 /hʌm/ 
verb (past tense and past participle hummed, present participle humming)
hum to yourself
Tony was humming to himself as he drove along.
He began to hum a tune.
2. [intransitive] to make a low continuous sound:
Machines hummed on the factory floor.
3. [intransitive] if a place hums, it is full of activity – use this to show approval ⇨ busy:
By nine o'clock, the restaurant was humming.
hum with
The streets were humming with life.
4. hum and haw British English to take a long time deciding what to say or do ⇨ hesitate
SYN hem and haw American English
hum2 noun [singular]
1. a low continuous sound
hum of
the distant hum of traffic
2. hum of excitement/approval etc the sound of people talking because they are excited etc
■ a quiet sound
▪hum a quiet low continuous sound, especially from electrical equipment, traffic, an engine, or people’s conversation: The only sound was the faint hum of the air-conditioning unit. | He could hear the hum of distant traffic.
▪rustle a continuous quiet sound from papers, leaves, or clothes when they rub together: She heard the rustle of dried leaves behind her. | the rustle of silk dresses
▪murmur a quiet low continuous sound, especially from people’s voices that are far away: The murmur of voices died away. | They spoke in a low murmur.
▪rumble a series of long low sounds, especially from big guns, traffic, or thunder: I heard a rumble of thunder. | the low rumble of a train approaching
| I |
verb (past tense and past participle hummed, present participle humming) Date: 1300-1400
Origin: From the sound
1. [intransitive and transitive] to sing a tune by making a continuous sound with your lips closedOrigin: From the sound
hum to yourself
2. [intransitive] to make a low continuous sound:
3. [intransitive] if a place hums, it is full of activity – use this to show approval ⇨ busy:
hum with
4. hum and haw British English to take a long time deciding what to say or do ⇨ hesitate
SYN hem and haw American English
| II |
noun [singular]1. a low continuous sound
hum of
2. hum of excitement/approval etc the sound of people talking because they are excited etc
| THESAURUS |
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Listening 听
listen to/enjoy/love/be into music/classical music/jazz/pop/hip-hop, etc.听／欣赏／喜爱／迷上音乐／古典音乐／爵士乐／流行音乐／嘻哈音乐等 listen to the radio/an MP3 player/a CD听收音机／MP3 播放器／CD put on/play a CD/a song/some music播放 CD／歌曲／音乐 turn down/up the music/radio/volume/bass调小／调大音乐／收音机／音量／低音 go to a concert/festival/gig/performance/recital去听音乐会；去看会演／现场演唱会／演出／音乐演奏会 copy/burn/rip music/a CD/a DVD复制／刻录／翻录音乐／CD／DVD download music/an album/a song/a demo/a video下载音乐／专辑／歌曲／录音样带／视频
Playing 演奏
play a musical instrument/the piano/percussion/a note/a riff/the melody/a concerto/a duet/by ear演奏乐器／钢琴／打击乐／音符／重复段／主旋律／协奏曲／二重奏；凭听觉记忆演奏 sing an anthem/a ballad/a solo/an aria/the blues/in a choir/soprano/alto/tenor/bass/out of tune唱国歌／民歌；独唱；唱咏叹调／蓝调歌曲；在合唱团演唱；唱女高音／中音／男高音／男低音；唱歌走调 hum a tune/a theme tune/a lullaby哼曲子／主题曲／摇篮曲 accompany a singer/choir为歌手／合唱团伴奏 strum a chord/guitar弹奏和弦／吉他
Performing 表演
form/start/get together/join/quit/leave a band组建／创办／组成／加入／退出／离开乐队 give a performance/concert/recital表演节目；举办音乐会／音乐演奏会 do a concert/recital/gig开音乐会／音乐演奏会／现场演唱会 play a concert/gig/festival/venue在音乐会／现场演唱会／会演／音乐厅演出 perform ( at/in a concert/BrE ( a concertespecially
NAmE 在音乐会上演出 appear at a festival/live现身会演；现场表演 go on/embark on a (world) tour进行／开始（全球）巡演
Recording 录制
write/compose music/a ballad/a melody/a tune/a song/a theme song/an opera/a symphony写／创作音乐／民谣／旋律／曲子／歌曲／主题歌／歌剧／交响曲 land/get/sign a record deal获得／签署唱片合约 be signed to/be dropped by a record company与唱片公司签约；被唱片公司解约 record/release/put out an album/a single/a CD录制／发行／出版专辑／单曲／CD be top of/top the charts高居每周流行唱片排行榜之首 get to/go straight to/go straight in at/enter the charts at number one位列／一举登上／进入排行榜首位
