---
title: hum — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «hum» in the school dictionary: To sing a tune with your lips closed, making a long «mmm» sound. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# hum

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** traffic, classroom, She, Bees, I, fridge · **What happens:** sing, close, make, hum, be, paint · **To what, where:** tune, lips, long mmm sound, low steady buzzing sound, happy song, flower · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«hum» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [hum in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/hum.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sing a tune with your lips closed, making a long «mmm» sound.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hum:m1:1
# text = To sing a tune with your lips closed, making a long «mmm» sound.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sing	sing	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	tune	tune	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	lips	lip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
12	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	mmm	mmm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
16	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | to-infinitive |  | a tune |  |  |  | with your lips | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location tune=Theme |
| 2 | **close** | participle |  | your lips *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **make** | gerund |  | a long mmm sound |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make a low, steady buzzing sound, like bees or a fridge.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hum:m2:1
# text = To make a low, steady buzzing sound, like bees or a fridge.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
4	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	buzzing	buzzing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	parataxis	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	fridge	fridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | a low steady buzzing sound or a fridge |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: noun — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A low, continuous sound: «the hum of traffic».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hum:m3:1
# text = A low, continuous sound: «the hum of traffic».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	continuous	continuous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	hum	hum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hum** *in a quote* |  | traffic |  |  |  |  |  | nom hum «state intransitive»: of=agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To be busy and lively: «The classroom was humming with activity».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hum:m4:1
# text = To be busy and lively: «The classroom was humming with activity».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	cop	_	_
3	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	lively	lively	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	classroom	classroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	humming	hum	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	parataxis	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	activity	activity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | busy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **hum** *in a quote* | past · progressive | the classroom |  |  |  |  | with activity | vn bulge-47.5.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Location with activity=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She hummed a happy song while she painted.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hum:x1:1
# text = She hummed a happy song while she painted.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hummed	hum	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	painted	paint	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hum** | past | She | a happy song |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent song=Topic |
| 2 | **paint** | past | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bees hum as they fly from flower to flower.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hum:x2:1
# text = Bees hum as they fly from flower to flower.
1	Bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hum	hum	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	fly	fly	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	flower	flower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	flower	flower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hum** | present | Bees |  |  |  |  |  | vn bulge-47.5.3 «NP V»: agent=Location |
| 2 | **fly** | present | Bees *= bee* |  |  | flower |  | to flower | vn drive-11.5-1 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Agent from flower=Initial\_Location to flower=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I could hear the hum of the fridge in the quiet kitchen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hum:x3:1
# text = I could hear the hum of the fridge in the quiet kitchen.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	hum	hum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	fridge	fridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | could | I | the hum of the fridge |  | the quiet kitchen |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer hum=Stimulus |
| 2 | **hum** |  | the fridge |  |  |  |  |  | nom hum «state intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hum the tune if you forget the words.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hum:x4:1
# text = Hum the tune if you forget the words.
1	Hum	hum	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	tune	tune	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	forget	forget	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hum** | imperative | you *not said here* | the tune |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tune=Topic |
| 2 | **forget** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | the words |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The computer makes a soft hum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hum:x5:1
# text = The computer makes a soft hum.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	hum	hum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | the computer | a soft hum |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset hum=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The market was humming with people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hum:x6:1
# text = The market was humming with people.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	market	market	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	humming	hum	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hum** | past · progressive | the market |  |  |  |  | with people | vn bulge-47.5.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Location with people=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hummingbird got its name from the hum of its wings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hum:x7:1
# text = The hummingbird got its name from the hum of its wings.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hummingbird	hummingbird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hum	hum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | the hummingbird | hummingbird's name |  | the hum of hummingbird's wings |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent name=Theme from hum=Source |
| 2 | **name** |  | hummingbird |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |
| 3 | **hum** |  | hummingbird's wings |  |  |  |  |  | nom hum «state intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The noisy hum of voices was hushed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hum:x8:1
# text = The noisy hum of voices was hushed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	noisy	noisy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	hum	hum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	voices	voice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	hushed	hush	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hush** | past · passive |  | the noisy hum of voices |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **hum** |  | voices |  |  |  |  |  | nom hum «state intransitive»: of=agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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