GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 5 definitions

1.       
   Mute , v. t. [L. mutare to change. See Molt.] To cast off; to molt.
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   Have I muted all my feathers?
   Beau. & Fl.
   
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2.       
   Mute, v. t. & i. [F. mutir, émeutir, OF. esmeltir, fr. OD. smelten, prop., to melt. See Smelt.] To eject the contents of the bowels; -- said of birds.
   B. Jonson.
   
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3.       
   Mute, n. The dung of birds.
   Hudibras.
   
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4.       
   Mute, a. [L. mutus; cf. Gr. μύειν to shut, Skr. mūta bound, mūka dumb: cf. OE. muet, fr. F. muet, a dim. of OF. mu, L. mutus.]
   Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent.
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   All the heavenly choir stood mute,
   And silence was in heaven.
   Milton.
   
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   ☞ 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.
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   Incapable of speaking; dumb.
   Dryden.
   
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   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.
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   Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a metal.
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   Mute swan (Zool.), a European wild white swan (Cygnus olor syn. Cygnus gibbus), which produces no loud notes, in distinction from the Trumpeter swan.
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   Syn. -- Silent; dumb; speechless.  -- 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.
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   They spake not a word;
   But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones,
   Gazed each on other.
   Shak.
   
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   All sat mute,
   Pondering the danger with deep thoughts.
   Milton.
   
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5.       
   Mute, n.
   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.
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   (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.
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   (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.
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