• enPR: bŭz, IPA: /bʌz/

buzz

1. A continuous, humming noise, as of bees; a confused murmur, as of general conversation in low tones.
2. A whisper.
3. The audible friction of voice consonants.
4. (informal) A rush or feeling of energy or excitement; a feeling of slight intoxication.

   Still feeling the buzz from the coffee, he pushed through the last of the homework.

5. (informal) A telephone call or e-mail.
6. (informal) Major topic of conversation; widespread rumor; information spread behind the scenes.
   • 2006 Sept. 6, Daren Fonda, "[http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1532256,00.html Ford Motor's New Chief: "I Think It's a Tough Situation"]," Time:

     In Detroit, the buzz is that he's too nice a guy, unwilling to impose draconian job cuts at the risk of angering the UAW.

   • 2011 Allen Gregory, "Pilot" (season 1, episode 1):

     Allen Gregory DeLongpre: Who's he?

     Patrick: He's only the most popular kid in school.

     Allen Gregory: Ah, the two heavyweights finally meet. Sure you're tired of all the buzz. Allen Gregory DeLongpre.

     Joel Zadak: Joel...Zadak!

• German: Summen, Brummen
• Italian: brusio, ronzio, bisbiglio, mormorio, sibilo
• Portuguese: zumbido
• Russian: жужжа́ние
• Spanish: zumbido, zurrido

• German: Stimmengewirr

• German: Begeisterung, Aufregung
• Italian: euforia, ebbrezza
• Russian: задор

• French: coup de fil
• German: Anruf, Telefonat
• Italian: squillo
• Portuguese: ligação
• Russian: звоно́к

• German: Gerücht
• Italian: pettegolezzo
• Russian: слух
• Spanish: suspiro

buzz (buzzes, present participle buzzing; past and past participle buzzed)

1. (intransitive) To make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound, like that made by bees with their wings.

   • Like a wasp it buzzed, and stung him.

   • 1922, D. H. Lawrence, Fantasia of the Unconscious, ch. 2:

     So that now the universe has escaped from the pin which was pushed through it, like an impaled fly vainly buzzing, […] we can hope also to escape.

   1. (by extension) To utter a murmuring sound; to speak with a low, humming voice.
      • c. 1588–1593, William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act IV, scene iv]:

        However these disturbers of our peace / Buzz in the people's ears.

   2. (chiefly, of an insect) To fly while making such a sound.
      • 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, ch. 20:

        The flies, lethargic with the autumn, were beginning to buzz into the room.

2. (colloquial) To show a high level of activity and haste (alluding to the common simile "busy as a bee"). Often in the colloquial imperative "Buzz off!"
3. (transitive) To whisper; to communicate, as tales, in an undertone; to spread, as a report, by whispers or secretly.
   • c. 1591–1592, William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act V, scene vi]:

     I will buzz abroad such prophecies / That Edward shall be fearful of his life.

4. (transitive) To talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice.
5. (aviation) To fly at high speed and at a very low altitude over a specified area, as to make a surprise pass.
   • 2013, The Economist, Stopping asteroid strikes: Defenders of the Earth ↗

     […] an asteroid a mere 15-20 metres across exploded with the force of a medium-sized atom bomb over Chelyabinsk, in Russia, and another, much larger one buzzed Earth a few hours later.

6. (transitive) To cut the hair in a close-cropped military style, or buzzcut.
   • 2012, Ellen Hartman, Out of Bounds (page 130)

     Deacon said, “You used to beg me to let you buzz your hair when you were little.” “And then I grew up and realized how awful you looked when you buzzed yours.”

7. (archaic, transitive) To drink to the bottom.
   • 1849, The New Monthly Magazine and Universal Register

     He buzzed the bottle with such a hearty good will as settled the fate of another, which Soapey rang for as a matter of course. There was but the rejected one, which however Spigot put into a different decanter and brought in […]

8. (transitive) To communicate with (a person) by means of a buzzer.
   • 2012, Steven Joseph Sinopoli, The Seventh House (page 66)

     Then one day my secretary buzzed me and said Frank Sinatra was on the phone. When I picked up the phone it was the Chief who played dumb and would not admit that he said he was Frank Sinatra.

• French: bourdonner
• German: brummen, summen, surren
• Portuguese: zumbir
• Russian: жужжа́ть
• Spanish: zumbar, abejorrear

• German: murmeln
• Russian: шепта́ться
• Spanish: comentar

• German: murmeln

• French: raser
• Russian: лете́ть на бре́ющем полёте

• French: tondre

• buzz cut
• buzz saw

1. A male given name