MUTE
Dictionary entry overview: What does mute mean?
• MUTE (noun)
The noun MUTE has 2 senses:
1. a deaf person who is unable to speak
2. a device used to soften the tone of a musical instrument
Familiarity information: MUTE used as a noun is rare.
• MUTE (adjective)
The adjective MUTE has 3 senses:
1. expressed without speech; especially because words would be inappropriate or inadequate
2. lacking power of speech
3. unable to speak because of hereditary deafness
Familiarity information: MUTE used as an adjective is uncommon.
• MUTE (verb)
The verb MUTE has 1 sense:
1. deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping
Familiarity information: MUTE used as a verb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
• MUTE (noun)
Meaning:
A deaf person who is unable to speak
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
deaf-and-dumb person; deaf-mute; mute
Hypernyms ("mute" is a kind of...):
deaf person (a person with a severe auditory impairment)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mute"):
dummy; silent person (a person who does not talk)
Meaning:
A device used to soften the tone of a musical instrument
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("mute" is a kind of...):
acoustic device (a device for amplifying or transmitting sound)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mute"):
sordino; sourdine (a mute for a violin)
• MUTE (adjective)
Meaning:
Expressed without speech; especially because words would be inappropriate or inadequate
Synonyms:
mute; unspoken; wordless; tongueless
Context examples:
a mute appeal / a silent curse / best grief is tongueless / the words stopped at her lips unsounded / unspoken grief / choking exasperation and wordless shame
Similar:
inarticulate; unarticulate (without or deprived of the use of speech or words)
Meaning:
Lacking power of speech
Synonyms:
mute; tongueless
Similar:
nonspeaking; walk-on (not capable of or especially not involving speech or spoken lines)
Meaning:
Unable to speak because of hereditary deafness
Synonyms:
mute; dumb; silent
Similar:
inarticulate; unarticulate (without or deprived of the use of speech or words)
• MUTE (verb)
Meaning:
Deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Synonyms:
tone down; mute; damp; muffle; dull; dampen
Hypernyms (to "mute" is one way to...):
soften (make (images or sounds) soft or softer)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
