'Mute' definitions:

Definition of 'mute'

From: WordNet
adjective
Expressed without speech; "a mute appeal"; "a silent curse"; "best grief is tongueless"- Emily Dickinson; "the words stopped at her lips unsounded"; "unspoken grief"; "choking exasperation and wordless shame"- Thomas Wolfe [syn: mute, tongueless, unspoken, wordless]
adjective
Unable to speak because of hereditary deafness [syn: dumb, mute, silent]
noun
A deaf person who is unable to speak [syn: mute, deaf- mute, deaf-and-dumb person]
noun
A device used to soften the tone of a musical instrument
verb
Deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping [syn: muffle, mute, dull, damp, dampen, tone down]

Definition of 'Mute'

From: GCIDE
  • Mute \Mute\ (m[=u]t), v. t. [L. mutare to change. See Molt.] To cast off; to molt. [1913 Webster]
  • Have I muted all my feathers? --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Mute'

From: GCIDE
  • Mute \Mute\, v. t. & i. [F. mutir, ['e]meutir, OF. esmeltir, fr. OD. smelten, prop., to melt. See Smelt.] To eject the contents of the bowels; -- said of birds. --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Mute'

From: GCIDE
  • Mute \Mute\, n. The dung of birds. --Hudibras. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Mute'

From: GCIDE
  • Mute \Mute\, a. [L. mutus; cf. Gr. my`ein to shut, Skr. m[=u]ta bound, m[=u]ka dumb: cf. OE. muet, fr. F. muet, a dim. of OF. mu, L. mutus.]
  • 1. Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent. [1913 Webster]
  • All the heavenly choir stood mute, And silence was in heaven. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: In law a prisoner is said to stand mute, when, upon being arranged, he makes no answer, or does not plead directly, or will not put himself on trial. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Incapable of speaking; dumb. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also, produced by complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt the passage of breath; -- said of certain letters. See 5th Mute, 2. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a metal. [1913 Webster]
  • Mute swan (Zool.), a European wild white swan ({Cygnus olor} syn. Cygnus gibbus), which produces no loud notes, in distinction from the Trumpeter swan. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: Silent; dumb; speechless.
  • Usage: Mute, Silent, Dumb. One is silent who does not speak; one is dumb who can not, for want of the proper organs; as, a dumb beast, etc.; and hence, figuratively, we speak of a person as struck dumb with astonishment, etc. One is mute who is held back from speaking by some special cause; as, he was mute through fear; mute astonishment, etc. Such is the case with most of those who never speak from childhood; they are not ordinarily dumb, but mute because they are deaf, and therefore never learn to talk; and hence their more appropriate name is deaf-mutes. [1913 Webster]
  • They spake not a word; But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones, Gazed each on other. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • All sat mute, Pondering the danger with deep thoughts. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Mute'

From: GCIDE
  • Mute \Mute\, n.
  • 1. One who does not speak, whether from physical inability, unwillingness, or other cause. Specifically: (a) One who, from deafness, either congenital or from early life, is unable to use articulate language; a deaf-mute. (b) A person employed by undertakers at a funeral. (c) A person whose part in a play does not require him to speak. (d) Among the Turks, an officer or attendant who is selected for his place because he can not speak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Phon.) A letter which represents no sound; a silent letter; also, a close articulation; an element of speech formed by a position of the mouth organs which stops the passage of the breath; as, p, b, d, k, t. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Mus.) A little utensil made of brass, ivory, or other material, so formed that it can be fixed in an erect position on the bridge of a violin, or similar instrument, in order to deaden or soften the tone. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'mute'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Mute'