buzz — a continuous low humming sound
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a continuous low humming sound
Pronunciation (IPA): /bʌz/
Example Sentences
- My phone buzzed during the silent movie, and everyone glared at me.
- The coffee shop was buzzing with students cramming for exams.
- After three cups of coffee, I had such a buzz that I cleaned my entire room.
buzz
NOUN[/bʌz/]
a continuous low humming sound
Bees buzz around the picnic table as the kids shriek and run.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Buzz emerged in the 16th century as an onomatopoeia, imitating the humming sound produced by bees in flight. Like the Korean 'wing-wing', it developed naturally as a sound-symbolic expression in English.
Breakdown
buzz = imitative of the whirring/humming sound made by bee wings in motion; the -zz represents a prolonged fricative sound mimicking the insect's characteristic drone.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My phone buzzed during the silent movie, and everyone glared at me.”
“The coffee shop was buzzing with students cramming for exams.”
“After three cups of coffee, I had such a buzz that I cleaned my entire room.”
“The new restaurant created quite a buzz on social media.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.