Link Centre Dictionary

buzz

UK/bʌz/ US/bʊz/ common informal
verb (4) noun (2)

verb

1.

make a buzzing sound

  • “bees were buzzing around the hive”
Synonyms
2.

fly low

  • “Planes buzzed the crowds in the square”
3.

be noisy with activity

  • “This office is buzzing with activity”
Synonyms
4.

call with a buzzer

  • “he buzzed the servant”

noun

1.

sound of rapid vibration

  • “the buzz of a bumble bee”
Synonyms
2.

a confusion of activity and gossip

  • “the buzz of excitement was so great that a formal denial was issued”

Origin

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”).

Phrases

  • buzz about
  • buzz bar
  • buzz bomb
  • buzz button
  • buzz cut
  • buzz in
  • buzz off
  • buzzin' dozen

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.