Buzz Meaning
/bʌz/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA continuous humming noise, as of bees; a confused murmur, as of general conversation in low tones.
nounA whisper.
Sentence Examples
Don't buzz about my ears.
I'll give him a buzz.
I'm sorry, I don't buzz in people I don't know.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
I could hear the loud ____ of the bee as it flew near my ear.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I could hear the constant ____ of a fly in the quiet room tonight.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English *bussen (suggested by Middle English bussyng (“buzzing”)), of onomatopoeic origin. Cognate with Scots bizz (“to buzz”). Compare Middle English bunning (“buzzing”), Middle English hossing (“buzzing”), Middle English bissen (“to hush”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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."
— 1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 289:
"In the steady buzz of flies the homeward-bound agent was lying flushed and insensible[.]"
— 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 209:
"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."
— 2012, Ripley's Believe It Or Not! (compiler), Ripley's Unbelievable Stories For Guys:
"Now, don't waste time, give us a buzz -- quick! 825-4703 or 265-7881."
— 1983 April 9, “Clearly Womyn's Space (classified advertisement)”, in Gay Community News, page 15:
"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."
— 1995, Amy Heckerling, Clueless, spoken by Cher (Alicia Silverstone):
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
I could hear the loud ____ of the bee as it flew near my ear.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I could hear the constant ____ of a fly in the quiet room tonight.