Mute

Part of speech: noun (n.)

The dung of birds. Hudibras.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. One who does not speak, whether from physical inability, unwillingness, or other cause. Specifically:

2. One who, from deafness, either congenital or from early life, is unable to use articulate language; a deaf-mute.

3. A person employed by undertakers at a funeral.

4. A person whose part in a play does not require him to speak.

5. Among the Turks, an officer or attendant who is selected for his place because he can not speak.

6. 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.

7. 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.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To cast off; to molt. Have I muted all my feathers Beau. & Fl.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To eject the contents of the bowels; -- said of birds. B. Jonson.

Part of speech: adjective (a.)

1. Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent. All the heavenly choir stood mute, And silence was in heaven. Milton.

2. Incapable of speaking; dumb. Dryden.

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.

4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a metal. Mute swan (Zoöl.), a European wild white swan (Cygnus gibbus), which produces no loud notes.

Synonyms: 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. They spake not a word; But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones, Gazed each on other. Shak. All sat mute, Pondering the danger with deep thoughts. Milton.