2. To express satisfaction with by humming.
3. To flatter by approving; to cajole; to impose on; to
humbug. [Colloq. & Low]
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. [Cf. {Hem}, interj.] 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. [Perh. so called because strongly intoxicating.] A kind of
strong drink formerly used. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl.
{Venous hum}. See under {Venous}.
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. [Cf. {Hum}, interj.] 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.