muffle — to make a sound quieter or less clear by covering or wrapping
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to make a sound quieter or less clear by covering or wrapping
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈmʌfəl/
Example Sentences
- The thick snow muffled all sounds in the city.
- He tried to muffle his laughter during the serious meeting, but failed miserably.
- The villain muffled the witness with duct tape in the movie.
muffle
VERB[/ˈmʌfəl/]
to make a sound quieter or less clear by covering or wrapping
a considerate neighbor wraps a thick towel around a loud vacuum cleaner while cleaning their doorway. The towel completely covers the motor section where most noise comes from. Before wrapping, sound waves visibly radiated outward in all directions from the machine. After wrapping with the towel, the sound waves become much smaller and weaker. Other residents in nearby doorways look relieved as the harsh noise becomes gentler. A elderly person down the hall smiles and gives a thumbs up of appreciation. sound being made quieter and less clear by covering and wrapping
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle French 'moufle' meaning glove or thick covering. Originally referred to mittens that wrapped and warmed hands, later extended to mean wrapping or covering anything to deaden sound.
Breakdown
moufle (thick covering/glove) + -le (verb suffix) - the idea of wrapping something completely like a mitten covers a hand
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The thick snow muffled all sounds in the city.”
“He tried to muffle his laughter during the serious meeting, but failed miserably.”
“The villain muffled the witness with duct tape in the movie.”
“My grandmother muffled me in so many scarves that I looked like a walking burrito.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.