TOP

Definition of hum verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

     

    hum

     verb
    verb
    NAmE//hʌm//
     
    Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they hum
     
    he / she / it hums
     
    past simple hummed
     
    -ing form humming
     
     
    jump to other results
  1. 1[intransitive, transitive] to sing a tune with your lips closed She was humming softly to herself. He began to hum along with the music. hum something What's that tune you're humming? Topic CollocationsMusiclistening
    • listen to/enjoy/love/ (informal) be into music/classical music/jazz/pop/hip-hop, etc.
    • listen to the radio/an MP3 player/a CD
    • put on/play a CD/a song/some music
    • turn down/up the music/radio/volume/bass
    • go to a concert/festival/gig/performance/recital
    • copy/burn/rip music/a CD/a DVD
    • download music/an album/a song/a demo/a video
    playing
    • play a musical instrument/the piano/percussion/a note/a riff/the melody/a concerto/a duet/by ear
    • sing an anthem/a ballad/a solo/an aria/the blues/in a choir/soprano/alto/tenor/bass/out of tune
    • hum a tune/a theme song/a lullaby
    • accompany a singer/choir
    • strum a chord/guitar
    performing
    • form/start/join/quit/leave a band
    • (informal) get/put a band together
    • give a performance/concert/recital
    • do a concert/recital/gig
    • play a concert/gig/festival/venue
    • perform a concert/(live) in concert
    • appear at a festival/live
    • go on/embark on a (world) tour
    recording
    • write/compose music/a ballad/a melody/a tune/a song/a theme song/an opera/a symphony
    • land/get/sign a record deal
    • be signed to/be dropped by a record company
    • record/release/put out an album/a single/a CD
    • be on top of/top the charts
    • get to/go straight to/go straight in at/enter the charts at number one
  2. 2[intransitive] to make a low continuous sound The computers were humming away. The overhead wires hummed with power.
  3. 3[intransitive] to be full of activity The streets were beginning to hum with life. The whole room was humming now. Things were beginning to hum.
See hum in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Other results

All matches