Mute

Quick meaning: Mute is an adjective meaning Not having the power of speech; dumb.

Meaning

Not having the power of speech; dumb.

More Meanings

1. Silent; not making a sound.
2. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; said of a metal.
3. (phonetics, now obsolete) A stopped consonant; a stop.
4. A person who does not have the power of speech.
5. A hired mourner at a funeral; an undertaker's assistant.
6. Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also, produced by complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt the passage of breath; said of certain letters.
7. (obsolete, theater) An actor who does not speak; a mime performer.

Example Sentences

He ask’d, but all the Heav’nly Quire ſtood mute, / And ſilence was in Heav’n: […]

He asked about the undertaking business, and how many mutes went down with Lady Estrich’s remains […]

The girl left, and presently returned, followed by two male mutes, to whom the Queen made another sign.

Then followed a long silence during which the mute turned to them and said, ‘Of course you'll be wanting an urn, sir?’

Word Forms

• muter
• mutest
• mutes
• muting
• muted

Synonyms for mute

Depending on context, synonyms include aphonic, aphonous, dumb, mumchance, tongueless, unspeaking.

Antonyms for mute

Common opposites include audible, talkative, vocal, voiced, unmute.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include dumb, silent, inarticulate, unarticulate, wordless, dull.

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