hummer

US: (hum′ər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hum•mer  (hum′ər), n. 

1. a person or thing that hums.
2. Slang Terms humdinger.
3. Birds a hummingbird.

• hum + -er¹ 1595–1605

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

hum /hʌm/   v., hummed, hum•ming, n., interj. 
v. 

1. to make a low, continuous sound;
   drone:
   [no object] bees humming in the garden.
2. to sing with closed lips, without pronouncing words: [no object]
   He was humming quietly to himself.
   [~ + object]
   He hummed a tune.
3. to give forth an unclear sound of mixed voices or noises:
   [no object] The crowded room was humming.
4. to be in a state of busy activity:
   [no object] The household was humming with wedding preparations.

n. [countable]

5. the act or sound of humming.

interj. 

6. This word is used to express hesitation, dissatisfaction, doubt, a moment of thinking, etc.

hum•mer, n. [countable]

-hum-, root. 

1. -hum- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "ground.'' This meaning is found in such words as: exhume, humble, humiliate, humility, humus, posthumous.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hum  (hum), v., hummed, hum•ming, n., interj. 
v.i. 

1. to make a low, continuous, droning sound.
2. to give forth an indistinct sound of mingled voices or noises.
3. to utter an indistinct sound in hesitation, embarrassment, dissatisfaction, etc.;
   hem.
4. to sing with closed lips, without articulating words.
5. to be in a state of busy activity:
   The household hummed in preparation for the wedding.
6. British Terms to have a bad odor, as of stale perspiration.

v.t. 

7. to sound, sing, or utter by humming:
   to hum a tune.
8. to bring, put, etc., by humming:
   to hum a child to sleep.

n. 

9. the act or sound of humming;
   an inarticulate or indistinct murmur;
   hem.
10. Sound Reproduction [Audio.] an unwanted low-frequency sound caused by power-line frequencies in any audio component.

interj. 

11. (an inarticulate sound uttered in contemplation, hesitation, dissatisfaction, doubt, etc.)

• 1300–50; Middle English; ultimately imitative; cognate with German hummen to hum; compare humblebee

Synonyms

• 5. bustle, buzz.