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mute

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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.

See mute in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

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

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

noun

a person who does not speak; specif., one who, deaf from infancy, has not learned to speak; deaf-mute
Now Rare a hired mourner at a funeral
a silent letter
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

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

Related Forms:

mutely adverb
muteness noun

See mute in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective mut·er, mut·est

Refraining from producing speech or vocal sound.
a. Often Offensive Unable to speak.
b. Unable to vocalize, as certain animals.
Expressed without speech; unspoken: a mute appeal.
Law Refusing to plead when under arraignment.
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

Often Offensive One who is incapable of speech.
Law A defendant who refuses to plead when under arraignment.
Music Any of various devices used to muffle or soften the tone of an instrument.
Linguistics
a. A silent letter.
b. A plosive; a stop.

transitive verb mut·ed, mut·ing, mutes

To soften or muffle the sound of.
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

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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