mute

Mute is defined as silent or not capable of speaking.

(adjective)

An example of something mute is a television with the sound turned off.

The definition of a mute is a person who chooses to not speak or who cannot speak.

(noun)

An example of a mute is a person who has always been deaf and has never spoken.

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See mute in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. not speaking; voluntarily silent: often used figuratively
  2. unable to speak
  3. not spoken: a mute appeal
  4. silent (): the letter e in “mouse” is mute

Origin: ME mewet < OFr muet < mu < L mutus, silent: for IE base see mope

noun

  1. a person who does not speak; specif., one who, deaf from infancy, has not learned to speak; deaf-mute
  2. Now Rare a hired mourner at a funeral
  3. a silent letter
  4. Music any of various devices used to soften or muffle the tone of an instrument, as a block placed within the bell of a brass instrument or a piece set onto the bridge of a violin

transitive verb muted, muting

  1. to soften or muffle the sound of (a musical instrument, etc.) as with a mute
  2. to subdue the intensity of (a color)

Related Forms:

See mute in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective mut·er, mut·est
  1. Refraining from producing speech or vocal sound.
  2. a. Often Offensive Unable to speak.
    b. Unable to vocalize, as certain animals.
  3. Expressed without speech; unspoken: a mute appeal.
  4. Law Refusing to plead when under arraignment.
  5. Linguistics
    a. Not pronounced; silent, as the e in the word house.
    b. Pronounced with a temporary stoppage of breath, as the sounds (p) and (b); plosive; stopped.
noun
  1. Often Offensive One who is incapable of speech.
  2. Law A defendant who refuses to plead when under arraignment.
  3. Music Any of various devices used to muffle or soften the tone of an instrument.
  4. Linguistics
    a. A silent letter.
    b. A plosive; a stop.
transitive verb mut·ed, mut·ing, mutes
  1. To soften or muffle the sound of.
  2. To soften the tone, color, shade, or hue of.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English muet

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from

Origin: diminutive of mu

Origin: , from Latin mūtus

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Related Forms:

  • muteˈly adverb
  • muteˈness noun
Usage Note: In reference to people who are unable to speak, mute and deaf-mute are now often considered objectionable. The offense is due not only to the bluntness of these terms but also to the implication that a person who is incapable of oral speech is necessarily deprived of the use of language. In fact, many deaf people today communicate naturally and fully through the use of a sign language such as ASL, and no one who has witnessed such a conversation would ever think to call the participants mute. See Usage Note at deaf.

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