Pronunciations (3)
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/bʌz/
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/bʊz/
Pronunciation notes
- Northern-England
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bʌz
Noun
A continuous humming noise, as of bees; a confused murmur, as of general conversation in low tones.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Immediately there was a ringing and a singing in the hills, and then a whispering and a lisping and a whiz and a buzz all about him, for the little people were now some whirling round and round in the dance, and others sporting and tumbling about in the moonshine, and playing a thousand merry pranks and tricks.
In the steady buzz of flies the homeward-bound agent was lying flushed and insensible[.]
More examples (1)
This probably explains the interest in UVB-76, or “The Buzzer,” a mysterious shortwave radio station that has been operating since 1982 and whose output consists of a monotonous buzz repeated 24 hours a day, occasionally interrupted by a Russian voice.
A whisper.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
The audible friction of voiced consonants.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
A rush or feeling of energy or excitement; a feeling of slight intoxication.
Usage- Countable
- Informal
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Still feeling the buzz from the coffee, he pushed through the last of the homework.
A telephone call or e-mail.
Usage- Countable
- Informal
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Now, don't waste time, give us a buzz -- quick! 825-4703 or 265-7881.
Major topic of conversation; widespread rumor; information spread behind the scenes.
Usage- Countable
- Informal
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Mr. Hall? The buzz on Christian is that his parents have joint custody, so he'll be spending one semester in Chicago and one semester here.
I wasn't performing with Pimp and Smoove that much no more, but I had a solo deal with Ruthless Rap and a brand new mixtape that was creating a big buzz.
More examples (2)
In Detroit, the buzz is that he's too nice a guy, unwilling to impose draconian job cuts at the risk of angering the UAW.
Allen Gregory DeLongpre: Who's he? Patrick: He's only the most popular kid in school. Allen Gregory: Ah, the two heavyweights finally meet. Sure you're tired of all the buzz. Allen Gregory DeLongpre.
Synonym of fizz-buzz (“counting game”).
Usage- Uncountable
Verb
To make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound, like that made by bees with their wings.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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Ah! the singing, fatal arrow, / Like a wasp it buzzed, and stung him [a roebuck]!
More examples (1)
So that now the universe has escaped from the pin which was pushed through it, like an impaled fly vainly buzzing: now that the multiple universe flies its own complicated course quite free, and hasn't got any hub, we can hope also to escape.
To make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound, like that made by bees with their wings. To utter a murmuring sound; to speak with a low, humming voice.
Usage- broadly
- Intransitive
- Examples
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However these disturbers of our peace / Buzz in the people's ears.
To make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound, like that made by bees with their wings. Of a group of people, to talk about some interesting topic excitedly.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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But I tell you this has set all London buzzing. The old man is where he likes to be, with a pin-point limelight right on his hairy old head.
To make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound, like that made by bees with their wings. To fly while making such a sound.
Usage- Intransitive
- of an insect
- Examples
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A fly was buzzing past me.
The flies, lethargic with the autumn, were beginning to buzz into the room.
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.
Usage- Colloquial
- Examples
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The room was buzzing with excitement.
To whisper; to communicate, as tales, in an undertone; to spread, as a report, by whispers or secretly.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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I will buzz abroad such prophecies / That Edward shall be fearful of his life.
To talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice.
Usage- Transitive
To fly at high speed and at a very low altitude over (an area), as to make a surprise pass.
Usage- also
- Figurative
- Transitive
- Examples
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buzzing around in small cars that dodged through traffic
More examples (1)
[…] an asteroid a mere 15-20 metres across exploded with the force of a medium-sized atom bomb over Chelyabinsk, in Russia, and another, much larger one buzzed Earth a few hours later.
To cut (the hair) in a close-cropped military style, or buzzcut.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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Deacon said, “You used to beg me to let you buzz your hair when you were little.” “And then I grew up and realized how awful you looked when you buzzed yours.”
To throw swiftly.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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I have mentioned her deft hand with a stone — well, as soon as our backs were turned she buzzed a stone to clip Joe's ear.
To drink to the bottom.
Usage- Archaic
- Transitive
- Examples
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More examples (1)
He buzzed the bottle with such a hearty good will as settled the fate of another, which Soapey rang for as a matter of course. There was but the rejected one, which however Spigot put into a different decanter and brought in […]
To communicate with (a person) by means of a buzzer.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Then one day my secretary buzzed me and said Frank Sinatra was on the phone. When I picked up the phone it was the Chief who played dumb and would not admit that he said he was Frank Sinatra.
Noun
sound of rapid vibration
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the buzz of a bumble bee
a confusion of activity and gossip
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the buzz of excitement was so great that a formal denial was issued
Verb
make a buzzing sound
- Examples
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bees were buzzing around the hive
fly low
- Examples
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Planes buzzed the crowds in the square
be noisy with activity
- Examples
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This office is buzzing with activity
call with a buzzer
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he buzzed the servant