/ bʌz; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[ v ] ( of a bee ) to make a continuous low sound :
Bees buzzed lazily among the flowers.
2.
[ v ] to make a sound like a bee buzzing :
The doorbell buzzed loudly.
My ears were buzzing (= were filled with a continuous sound) .
3.
[ v ] buzz (with sth) to be full of excitement, activity, etc. :
The place was buzzing with journalists.
New York buzzes from dawn to dusk.
My head was still buzzing after the day's events.
4.
buzz (for sb/sth) to call sb to come by pressing a buzzer :
[ v ]
The doctor buzzed for the next patient to come in.
[also vn ]
5.
[ vn ] ( informal ) to fly very close to sb/sth, especially as a warning or threat
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PHRASAL VERBS
- buzz about / around
- buzz off
■ noun
1.
[ C , usually sing. ] (also buzz·ing [ U , sing. ]) a continuous sound like the one that a bee , a buzzer or other electronic device makes :
the buzz of bees hunting nectar
The buzz of the Entryphone interrupted our conversation.
hums and buzzes from the amplifier
2.
[ sing. ] the sound of people talking, especially in an excited way :
The buzz of conversation suddenly stopped when she came into the room.
3.
[ sing. ] ( informal ) a strong feeling of pleasure, excitement or achievement :
a buzz of excitement / expectation
She gets a buzz out of her work.
Flying gives me a real buzz .
You can sense the creative buzz in the city.
4.
the buzz [ sing. ] ( informal ) news that people tell each other that may or may not be true
SYN rumour
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IDIOMS
- give sb a buzz
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : imitative.