hum
hum /h'ʌm/ (hums humming hummed)
1 [VERB] V, V-ing
If something hums, it makes a low continuous noise.
The birds sang, the bees hummed...
There was a low humming sound in the sky.
[N-SING] oft the N of n
Hum is also a noun.
...the hum of traffic...
2 [VERB] V n, V
When you hum a tune, you sing it with your lips closed.
She was humming a merry little tune...
He hummed to himself as he opened the trunk.
3 [VERB] V, V with n
If you say that a place hums, you mean that it is full of activity.
The place is really beginning to hum...
On Saturday morning, the town hums with activity and life.
4 [CONVENTION]
Hum is sometimes used to represent the sound people make when they are not sure what to say.
Hum, I am sorry but I thought you were French.
5
hum and haw: see haw
see also ho humho hum /h'oʊ h'ʌm/
also ho-hum
1 [PHRASE]
You can use ho hum when you want to show that you think something is not interesting, remarkable, or surprising in any way. (INFORMAL)
My general reaction to this news might be summed up as `ho-hum'...
2 [EXCLAM]
You can say ho hum to show that you accept an unpleasant situation because it is not very serious. (INFORMAL)
Ho hum, another nice job down the drain.
1 [VERB] V, V-ing
If something hums, it makes a low continuous noise.
The birds sang, the bees hummed...
There was a low humming sound in the sky.
[N-SING] oft the N of n
Hum is also a noun.
...the hum of traffic...
2 [VERB] V n, V
When you hum a tune, you sing it with your lips closed.
She was humming a merry little tune...
He hummed to himself as he opened the trunk.
3 [VERB] V, V with n
If you say that a place hums, you mean that it is full of activity.
The place is really beginning to hum...
On Saturday morning, the town hums with activity and life.
4 [CONVENTION]
Hum is sometimes used to represent the sound people make when they are not sure what to say.
Hum, I am sorry but I thought you were French.
5
hum and haw: see haw
see also ho humho hum /h'oʊ h'ʌm/
also ho-hum
1 [PHRASE]
You can use ho hum when you want to show that you think something is not interesting, remarkable, or surprising in any way. (INFORMAL)
My general reaction to this news might be summed up as `ho-hum'...
2 [EXCLAM]
You can say ho hum to show that you accept an unpleasant situation because it is not very serious. (INFORMAL)
Ho hum, another nice job down the drain.