/ hʌm; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb ( -mm- )
1.
to sing a tune with your lips closed :
[ v ]
She was humming softly to herself.
[ vn ]
What's that tune you're humming?
2.
[ v ] to make a low continuous sound :
The computers were humming away.
3.
[ v ] to be full of activity :
The streets were beginning to hum with life.
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IDIOMS
- hum and haw
■ noun
[ sing. ] hum (of sth) a low continuous sound :
the hum of bees / traffic / voices
The room filled with the hum of conversation.
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : imitative.