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buzz

Pronunciation: /bʌz/

The English word “buzz” has 19 meanings listed here.

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.

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”).

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.