English Explanatory Dictionary

buzz

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A continuous humming noise, as of bees; a confused murmur, as of general conversation in low tones.
  2. A whisper.
  3. The audible friction of voiced consonants.
  4. A rush or feeling of energy or excitement; a feeling of slight intoxication.
  5. A telephone call or e-mail.
  6. Major topic of conversation; widespread rumor; information spread behind the scenes.
  7. Synonym of fizz-buzz (“counting game”).
verb
  1. To make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound, like that made by bees with their wings.
  2. To utter a murmuring sound; to speak with a low, humming voice.
  3. Of a group of people, to talk about some interesting topic excitedly.
  4. To fly while making such a sound.
  5. To show a high level of activity and haste, energization or excitement, to be busy as a bee in one’s actions but perhaps mentally charged.
  6. To whisper; to communicate, as tales, in an undertone; to spread, as a report, by whispers or secretly.
  7. To talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice.
  8. To fly at high speed and at a very low altitude over (an area), as to make a surprise pass.
  9. To cut (the hair) in a close-cropped military style, or buzzcut.
  10. To throw swiftly.
  11. To drink to the bottom.
  12. To communicate with (a person) by means of a buzzer.
name
  1. A male given name, pet form of Busby

Pronunciation

bŭz /bʌz/ en-us-buzz.ogg /bʊz/

Word forms

buzz buzzes buzzing buzzed

Etymology

From Middle English *bussen (suggested by Middle English bussyng (“buzzing”)), of onomatopoeic origin. Cognate with Scots bizz (“to buzz”). Compare Middle English bunning (“buzzing”), Middle English hossing (“buzzing”), Middle English bissen (“to hush”).

Synonyms

fizz-buzz

Derived words

abuzz bizz-buzz buzz about buzzbait buzz bar buzz bomb buzz-bomb buzz button buzz cut buzzie buzz in buzzin' dozen buzzkill buzzle buzzless buzzlike buzz off buzz-phrase buzz pollination buzz-saw buzz saw buzzsaw buzz score buzz session buzzstorm buzz track buzz up buzzword buzz-word buzz word buzzworm buzzworthy buzzy catch a buzz fizz-buzz give someone a buzz glacial buzz saw hum-buzz love buzz outbuzz

Translations

Albanian: zukat Albanian: gumëzhij Arabic: طَنَّ Bulgarian: бръмча Bulgarian: жужа Catalan: brunzir Catalan: brumir Czech: bzučet Dutch: zoemen Esperanto: zumi Finnish: surista Finnish: siristä Finnish: inistä French: bourdonner Galician: zoar Gallo: brunder German: brummen German: summen German: surren Hebrew: זמזם Hungarian: zümmög Indonesian: berdengung Indonesian: berdenging Ingrian: pörissä Javanese: mbengung (krama/ngoko) Latin: bombiō Macedonian: брмчи Macedonian: зуи Māori: wheo Māori: wheowheo Māori: hohō Māori: rangorango Māori: tamumu Māori: tara Māori: rorohū Norman: bourdonner Polish: bzyczeć Polish: bzykać Polish: bzyknąć Polish: bąkać Polish: bąknąć Portuguese: zumbir Portuguese: zunir Romanian: bâzâi Russian: жужжа́ть Russian: гуде́ть Sanskrit: गुञ्जति Slovak: bzučať Spanish: zumbar Spanish: abejorrear Spanish: zurrir Swedish: surra Swedish: ina Turkish: cızırdamak Turkish: cızıldamak Turkish: vızıldamak Turkish: vızlamak Ukrainian: гуді́ти Ukrainian: дзижча́ти
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