buzz
/bʌz
/noun
1A low, continuous humming or murmuring sound, made by or similar to that made by an insect: the buzz of the bees a buzz of conversation...
- Then, from somewhere nearby, seemingly above the everyday sounds of the street, came the insect buzz of a tiny motor.
- The only sounds were the crackling of the fire and the buzz of nocturnal insects waking up.
- Dialogue had to be carefully picked out from among the buzz of insects and neighbours chatting.
Synonyms
hum, humming, buzzing, murmur, drone, whir, whirring, fizz, fizzing, fuzz, hiss, singing, whisper
British informal zizz
Medicine tinnitus
literary bombination, bombilation, susurration, susurrus
rare sibilation
1.1The sound of a buzzer or telephone.Jem's words are cut off by the buzz of Olivia's telephone, and Olivia presses the speaker button....
- The buzz of telephones and fax machines fills Lauren's head as she attempts to peruse an investment project put to her by Jake.
- The buzz of an alarm clock sounded through the room.
Synonyms
audible warning, purr, purring, ring, ringing, note, tone, beep, bleep, meep, warble, signal, alarm, alert
1.2 informal A telephone call: I’ll give you a buzz...
- Give me a buzz tomorrow if you'd like and I can go over the details with you.
- If you need help debugging it, you're more than welcome to give me a buzz tomorrow.
- I might give her a buzz tomorrow to see what the deal is.
2An atmosphere of excitement and activity: there is a real buzz about the place...
- With temperatures of up to 25 degrees the whole city is a buzz of activity and there is a real carnival atmosphere everywhere.
- In both venues the arrival of the bunny and other ‘characters’ created a real buzz of excitement.
- The town is staging its annual bugs festival and there is a real buzz of excitement in the community.
2.1 informal A feeling of excitement or euphoria; a thrill: I got such a buzz out of seeing the kids' faces...
- We go on funfair rides, drive fast cars, ride motorbikes, climb highest summits, take part in dangerous sports - all basically for a thrill, a buzz.
- I get a great buzz and a great thrill every time he rides for me.
- But shark-feeding dives - where divers get bumped by huge Caribbean reef sharks - are the ultimate buzz for thrill-seekers.
Synonyms
thrill, feeling of excitement, feeling of euphoria, stimulation, glow, tingle;
delight, joy, pleasure, fun, enjoyment;
titillation
informal kick
North American informal charge
2.2 informal A general sense of excitement about or interest in someone or something, as reflected in or generated by media coverage or word of mouth: they created a huge buzz with their latest album [mass noun]: the film has already generated a lot of buzz in the industry...
- Various art projects throughout the state of Wisconsin are also generating a buzz.
- Aside from generating buzz, the free newsletter has garnered some tangible benefits for the company.
- There's a real buzz about Morocco at the moment.
3 informal A rumour: there’s a strong buzz that he’s in Scotland...
- But the recent buzz has primarily been about her new relationship with her costar.
- And you know - you know the buzz about broadcast news, that it's on the decline.
- The good news is that the buzz has been positive.
verb [no object]
1Make a low, continuous humming sound: mosquitoes were buzzing all around us...
- I was awakened at about 12: 30 AM by the annoying sound of a mosquito buzzing around my head.
- A million and one different sounds buzzed around them.
- Suddenly, a loud whirring sound buzzed by his left window.
Synonyms
hum, drone, bumble, whir, fizz, fuzz, hiss, sing, murmur, whisper
British informal zizz
literary bombinate, bombilate, susurrate
rare sibilate
1.1 (often as noun buzzing) (Of the ears) be filled with a humming sound: I remember a buzzing in my ears...
- With my left ear painlessly buzzing in its temporary deafness and the roof of my mouth lightly seared and tasting like steak, I retired for the evening.
- The guy who wanted to sue because his ears were buzzing after a rock concert is a ridiculous example, but it shows the way people are thinking.
- After a long day, and with our ears buzzing, we were all starving.
1.2Signal to someone with a buzzer: the intercom buzzed loudly [with object]: he buzzed the stewardesses every five minutes...
- Throughout the day Jason wrestles with his essay but rarely manages to tackle it for any length of time before the intercom buzzes again.
- Driving past a guard booth or getting buzzed up via intercom - what's the difference?
- As soon as she starts to relax, the intercom buzzes on her desk and she presses the ‘receive’ button with a polished fingernail.
Synonyms
purr, sound, reverberate, ring, beep, bleep, warble
1.3 [with object] informal Telephone (someone): he buzzed me on the car phone...
- He knocks on my door, he comes down, he buzzes me on the phone, ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’
- He must also contend with a house phone on which the chef buzzes him with a Wagnerian ring, as insistent as the Doomsday trumps.
- They know they can buzz us if they want assistance.
2 [with adverbial of direction] Move quickly or busily: she buzzed along the M1 back into town...
- The four shuttles quickly lifted off and buzzed back toward Base-One, leaving the marines to move out.
- We've been busily buzzing around the city on weekends, perusing the papers and walking around the city, looking at potential apartments.
- Cars buzzed by busily on the roads, but Drew paid no notice.
Synonyms
bustle, scurry, scuttle, scramble, scamper, flutter, fuss;
hurry, hasten, make haste, rush, race, dash, run, sprint, tear, shoot, charge, chase, career;
British scutter
informal scoot, beetle, whizz, hare, zoom, zip
2.1 [with object] Aeronautics, informal Fly very close to (another aircraft, the ground, etc.) at high speed: helicopter gunships were sent to buzz the villages...
- Each C - 47 brought its human cargo over the heart of Paris and buzzed the Eiffel Tower.
- A year earlier F16s had failed to intercept a Cessna light aircraft that deviated from course, and buzzed the White House.
- I turned just in time to see a supersonic jet disappear again, after buzzing us from 200 feet.
3 (usually be buzzing with) Be full of excitement or activity: Westminster is buzzing with anticipation within an hour, every department was buzzing with the news...
- In five years time the laneways could be buzzing with activity.
- By mid-morning, the trimmed green field in front of the fenced-in prison should be buzzing with activity.
- There were tractors ploughing the soil, many of the shrubs had been uprooted and it was buzzing with activity.
Synonyms
have an air of;
be active, be lively, be busy, bustle, be bustling, hum, throb, vibrate, pulse, whirl
3.1(Of a person) be euphoric or very stimulated: twenty-four hours later Marcus was still buzzing...
- The Bradford fighter is buzzing as he counts down the hours to the fight that will make or break his bid to crack boxing's elite.
- This time last year I was buzzing, and I'm not now.
- I emerge buzzing from the Champagne three hours later.
4 [with object] British informal Throw (something) hard.The goal stemmed from the acuity of Cameron who buzzed a pass to Tomaschek whose cut-back found McSwegan....
- For example when it comes to arm strength, he can buzz the ball all over the field.
Phrasal verbs
buzz off
Origin
Late Middle English: imitative.