HUMMINGS

Noun

hummings

plural of humming

Source: Wiktionary

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HUMMING

Hum"ming, a.

Definition: Emitting a murmuring sound; droning; murmuring; buzzing.

Hum"ming, n.

Definition: A sound like that made by bees; a low, murmuring sound; a hum. Hummingale, lively or strong ale. Dryden.

– Humming bird (Zoöl.), any bird of the family Trochilidæ, of which over one hundred genera are known, including about four hundred species. They are found only in America and are most abundant in the tropics. They are mostly of very small size, and are not for their very brilliant colors and peculiar habit of hovering about flowers while vibrating their wings very rapidly with a humming noise. They feed both upon the nectar of flowers and upon small insects. The common humming bird or ruby-throat of the Eastern United States is Trochilus culubris. Several other species are found in the Western United States. See Calliope, and Ruby-throat.

– Humming-bird moth (Zoöl.), a hawk moth. See Hawk moth, under Hawk, the bird.

HUM

Hum, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hummed; p. pr. & vb. n. Humming.] Etym: [Of imitative origin; cf. G. hummen, D. hommelen. sq. root15.]

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

2. 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. Shak.

3. Etym: [Cf. Hum, interj.]

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

4. To express satisfaction by a humming noise. Here the spectators hummed. Trial of the Regicides.

Note: Formerly the habit of audiences was to express gratification by humming and displeasure by hissing.

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

Hum, v. t.

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

2. To express satisfaction with by humming.

3. To flatter by approving; to cajole; to impose on; to humbug. [Colloq. & Low]

Hum, n.

1. 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. Shak.

2. Any inarticulate and buzzing sound; as: (a) The confused noise of a crowd or of machinery, etc., heard at a distance; as, the hum of industry. But 'midst the crowd, the hum, the shock of men. Byron.

(b) A buzz or murmur, as of approbation. Macaulay.

3. An imposition or hoax.

4. Etym: [Cf. Hem, interj.]

Definition: 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. Shak.

5. Etym: [Perh. so called because strongly intoxicating.]

Definition: A kind of strong drink formerly used. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. Venous hum. See under Venous.

Hum, interj. Etym: [Cf. Hem, interj.]

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

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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