English Dictionary

Definition of “mute”

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1mute1 (mjuːtPronunciation for mute1) 

Definitions

adjective

  1. not giving out sound or speech; silent
  2. unable to speak; dumb
  3. unspoken or unexpressed  ⇒ mute dislike 
  4. law (of a person arraigned on indictment) refusing to answer a charge
  5. phonetics another word for plosive
  6. (of a letter in a word) silent

noun

  1. a person who is unable to speak
  2. law a person who refuses to plead when arraigned on indictment for an offence
  3. any of various devices used to soften the tone of stringed or brass instruments
  4. phonetics a plosive consonant; stop
  5. a silent letter
  6. an actor in a dumb show
  7. a hired mourner at a funeral

verb (tr)

  1. to reduce the volume of (a musical instrument) by means of a mute, soft pedal, etc
  2. to subdue the strength of (a colour, tone, lighting, etc)

Alternative Forms

ˈmutely adverb ˈmuteness noun

Word Origin

C14: muwet  from Old French mu,  from Latin mūtus silent

2mute2 (mjuːtPronunciation for mute2) archaic 

Definitions

verb

  1. (of birds) to discharge (faeces)

noun

  1. birds' faeces

Word Origin

C15: from Old French meutir,  variant of esmeltir, of Germanic origin; probably related to smeltC15: from Old French variant of of Germanic origin; probably related to 1 and and melt

Usage examples

  • Behind her the television stood mute , its plug lying disconnected from the socket.
    Harris, Elizabeth, Time of the Wolf (1994)
  • A mute testimony to the Thursday night when death visited Senari.
    India Today (1999)
  • It is almost as if God has hit nature's mute button, allowing the men and women who sleep here a much-needed peace.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • But the only friend Clare made in childhood was an autistic girl who was totally mute.
    Times, Sunday Times (2002)
  • There are many mountains in the world and each needs its mute Reminder.
    Travers, P L, What the Bee Knows - reflections on myth, symbol and story (1989)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'M'

Related Terms

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