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Hum vs Thrum - What's the difference?

hum | thrum | Synonyms |

As nouns the difference between hum and thrum

is that hum is a hummed tune, i.e. created orally with lips closed while thrum is a thrumming sound; a hum or vibration. Also fig.

As verbs the difference between hum and thrum

is that hum is to make a sound from the vocal chords without pronouncing any real words, with one's lips closed while thrum is to cause a steady rhythmic vibration, usually by plucking.

As an interjection hum

is hmm; an inarticulate sound uttered in a pause of speech implying doubt and deliberation.

hum

English

(wikipedia hum)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A hummed tune, i.e. created orally with lips closed.
  • An often indistinct sound resembling human humming.
  • They could hear a hum coming from the kitchen, and found the dishwasher on.
  • * Shakespeare
  • the shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums
  • Busy activity, like the buzz of a beehive.
  • (UK, slang) unpleasant odour.
  • (dated) An imposition or hoax; humbug.
  • (obsolete) A kind of strong drink.
  • (Beaumont and Fletcher)

    Verb

    (humm)
  • To make a sound from the vocal chords without pronouncing any real words, with one's lips closed.
  • We are humming happily along with the music.
  • To express by humming.
  • to hum a tune
    ''The hazers ominously hummed "We shall overcome" while they paddled the unruly pledges
  • To drone like certain insects naturally do in motion, or sounding similarly
  • * 1922 , (Virginia Woolf), (w, Jacob's Room) Chapter 2
  • A slight gloom fell upon the table. Jacob was helping himself to jam; the postman was talking to Rebecca in the kitchen; there was a bee humming at the yellow flower which nodded at the open window.
  • To buzz, be busily active like a beehive
  • 'The streets were humming with activity.''
  • To produce low sounds which blend continuously
  • (British) To reek, smell bad.
  • This room really hums — have you ever tried spring cleaning, mate?
  • (British) To deceive, or impose on one by some story or device.
  • (transitive, dated, slang) To flatter by approving; to cajole; to impose on; to humbug.
  • Derived terms

    * hummer * hummingbird * humming-top

    Synonyms

    * bumble * bustle * hustle * buzz * croon * whir

    Anagrams

    *

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • hmm; an inarticulate sound uttered in a pause of speech implying doubt and deliberation.
  • (Alexander Pope)
    ----

    thrum

    English

    Alternative forms

    * thrumb

    Etymology 1

    Imitative.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A thrumming sound; a hum or vibration. Also fig.
  • * '>citation
  • Verb

  • To cause a steady rhythmic vibration, usually by plucking.
  • She watched as he thrummed the guitar strings absently.
  • To make a monotonous drumming noise.
  • to thrum on a table

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m) from (etyl) and German Trumm.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • the ends of the warp threads in a loom which remain unwoven attached to the loom when the web is cut.
  • (chiefly in plural) a fringe made of such threads.
  • any short piece of leftover thread or yarn; a tuft or tassel.
  • (botany) a threadlike part of a flower; a stamen.
  • (botany) a tuft, bundle, or fringe of any threadlike structures, as hairs on a leaf, fibers of a root.
  • (anatomy) a bundle of minute blood vessels, a plexus.
  • (nautical, chiefly in plural) small pieces of rope yarn used for making mats or mops.
  • (nautical) a mat made of canvas and tufts of yarn.
  • (mining) A shove out of place; a small displacement or fault along a seam.
  • Verb

  • to furnish with thrums; to insert tufts in; to fringe.
  • * Quarles
  • are we born to thrum caps or pick straw?
  • (nautical) to insert short pieces of rope-yarn or spun yarn in.
  • to thrum a piece of canvas, or a mat, thus making a rough or tufted surface