buzz

BUZ/bʌz/

19 meanings of buzz

1
nouncountable or uncountable
A continuous humming noise, like that of bees, or the confused murmur of many people talking quietly.
The constant buzz of the beehive could be heard across the orchard.
A buzz of conversation rose from the crowded café.
Similarhum, drone, murmur, babble, whirr
Note
The word imitates the noise itself. It is onomatopoeic, going back to a Middle English form suggested by bussyng, "buzzing", and Scots bizz is a cousin. It covers insects and people alike. Joseph Conrad writes of "the steady buzz of flies" in The Heart of Darkness (1899), and the human version is heard the same way: many voices, no single word you can make out.
2
verbintransitive
To make a low, continuous humming or hissing sound, like the one bees make with their wings.
The old refrigerator buzzed quietly in the corner of the kitchen.
Power lines buzz faintly on hot, humid days.
Similarhum, drone, whirr, whine
3
nouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
Widespread talk, rumor, or excitement about something, spread informally among many people.
The startup generated enormous buzz among investors.
Early buzz about the album spread quickly through fan forums.
Similarhype, excitement, talk, chatter, rumor
Note
Talk with momentum. Two frames carry it: the buzz on someone and the buzz is that. Clueless (1995) uses the first: "The buzz on Christian is that his parents have joint custody." Things can also create a buzz, which tips rumor toward publicity, as with a mixtape "creating a big buzz." For crowds doing the talking, English uses the "excited talk" verb.
4
nouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
A rush of energy or excitement, or the light-headed feeling of mild intoxication.
The roaring crowd gave the performers an incredible buzz.
A couple of beers gave him a pleasant buzz.
Similarthrill, high, rush, kick, lift
5
nouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
An informal telephone call or email message to someone.
Give your sister a buzz before dinner.
I got a buzz from the office about the meeting.
Similarcall, ring, bell, shout, holler
Note
Casual phone talk that lives mostly in one fixed phrase: give someone a buzz. A 1983 classified advertisement in Gay Community News urges "give us a buzz -- quick!" The phrase is friendly and casual, and it is out of place in formal writing. The verb works differently: buzz someone usually means summoning by buzzer, as when a secretary buzzes her boss.
6
verbtransitive
To signal or summon a person by sounding a buzzer.
The nurse buzzed the doctor as soon as the patient arrived.
Guests buzz the front desk to request extra towels.
Similarpage, call, summon, ring, signal
7
verbtransitive
To cut someone's hair very short in a close-cropped, military style.
The stylist buzzed the sides and left the top a little longer.
He decided to buzz his head completely before the marathon.
Similarcrop, shave, clip, shear
8
verbintransitive
Of a group of people, to talk excitedly and noisily about an interesting topic.
The crowd buzzed with speculation as the results were read out.
Critics buzz about every new release from the studio.
Similarhum, chatter, gossip
Note
Here the bee's hum is transferred to people: many voices, all excited at once. One telling pattern makes the cause the subject and lets a place stand in for its talkers, as in Arthur Conan Doyle's "When the World Screamed" (1928): "this has set all London buzzing." The sense grows from the humming sound. Unlike the noun for rumor, it names the talking, not what is talked about.
9
verbtransitive
To pass over a place in an aircraft flying very fast and very low, sometimes to take people by surprise.
The fighter jet buzzed the control tower before climbing away.
Aircraft buzz the coastline during military exercises.
Note
An aviation verb, and always transitive. Its object is whatever gets flown over: you buzz a tower, a field, a ship. The sense stretches past aircraft. The Economist in 2013 described an asteroid that "buzzed Earth" hours after another exploded over Chelyabinsk. That keeps the core picture of a fast, close pass that was never meant to land.
10
verbintransitive
To fly while making a low, continuous humming sound, like that of a bee or other insect.
A bumblebee buzzed lazily between the rose bushes.
Insects buzz through the meadow all summer long.
Similarhum, drone, whirr

11
verbcolloquialintransitive
To be full of energy and haste, moving quickly and excitedly, like a busy bee.
The newsroom buzzed all night as reporters chased the story.
Crowds buzz through the market the moment the gates open.
Similarbustle, hum, swarm, hustle
12
verbtransitive
To throw something swiftly through the air.
The catcher buzzed the ball back to the pitcher.
Quarterbacks buzz the football downfield with surprising accuracy.
Similarfire, whip, zip, rifle, hurl
13
verbintransitive
To speak in a low, humming or murmuring voice.
She buzzed under her breath, lost in thought.
Monks buzz in low tones as the chant begins.
Similarmurmur, hum, mutter, mumble, drone
14
verbtransitive
To talk to someone constantly or confidentially in a low, humming voice.
She buzzed her sister with secrets throughout dinner.
Courtiers buzz the king with rumors all day long.
Similarply, regale, pester
15
verbtransitive
To whisper something, or to spread a report secretly through quiet, undertone talk.
Servants buzzed the scandal through every hallway of the manor.
Reporters buzz unverified claims across social media within hours.
Similarwhisper, spread, circulate
Note
Shakespeare's verb for rumor-mongering pairs naturally with abroad. In The Third Part of Henry the Sixt he writes: "I will buzz abroad such prophecies / That Edward shall be fearful of his life." The object is the tale itself, not the listener: you buzz a report, not a person. For murmuring at someone in that low tone, English uses the "talk to" verb.
16
nouncountable or uncountable
A whisper or low murmur of sound.
A faint buzz of conversation filled the library before the talk.
He caught the buzz of whispered news passing between the guards.
Similarmurmur, whisper, hum, mutter
17
nouncountable or uncountable
The audible friction produced when voiced consonants are spoken.
Linguists noted the buzz that distinguishes 'z' from the silent hiss of 's'.
You can hear the buzz on a voiced 'th' but not on its quieter cousin.
18
noununcountable
A counting game in which a set word replaces particular numbers as players count aloud, the same as fizz-buzz.
The teacher started a round of buzz to drill the kids on multiples.
Buzz got competitive once the kids reached the higher numbers.
19
verbarchaictransitive
To drink something down to the very bottom of the vessel.
The old soldier buzzed his tankard and called for another.
Guests buzz every bottle the host sets before them.
Note
This is an archaic drinker's verb whose object is the vessel being emptied. The New Monthly Magazine of 1849 has a guest who "buzzed the bottle with such a hearty good will" that another had to be rung for. Modern readers will hear the tipsy feeling instead. Use it only in period writing, or where the context makes the meaning plain.

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English (suggested by bussyng, meaning "buzzing"), of onomatopoeic origin, imitating the sound. It is related to Scots bizz ("to buzz").