mute
mute
Pronunciation
/mjut/
mju: This syllable starts with the bilabial nasal /m/, followed by the palatal approximant /j/, and ends with the close back rounded vowel /u/.
t: This syllable consists only of the voiceless alveolar stop /t/.
Word Form Variations
As a verb:
mute (base form)
mutes (third person singular present tense)
muting (present participle)
muted (past tense and past participle)
As an adjective:
mute (base form)
muter (comparative, though rarely used)
mutest (superlative, though rarely used)
As a noun:
mute (singular)
mutes (plural)
It's worth noting that the comparative and superlative forms of "mute" as an adjective are not commonly used. Instead, people usually say "more mute" or "most mute".
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To be silent or unable to speak. To cause someone or something to be unable to produce sound, especially speech.
Synonyms: silence, hush, muffle, suppress
Antonyms: amplify, unmute, express, voice
To soften or reduce the sound of. To make a sound quieter or less intense.
Synonyms: dampen, deaden, subdue
Antonyms: amplify, increase, louden
Adjective
Unable to speak. Describing someone who is incapable of speech, often due to a physical or developmental condition.
Synonyms: speechless, voiceless, dumb, silent
Antonyms: speaking, vocal, articulate, eloquent
Silent. Not making any sound.
Synonyms: soundless, noiseless, hushed
Antonyms: loud, noisy, audible
Noun
A person who is unable to speak. Someone who cannot speak, often due to a physical or developmental condition.
Synonyms: (largely outdated or considered offensive) dumb person
Antonyms: speaker, orator
A device used to soften the sound of a musical instrument. A device, often made of metal or felt, that is attached to a musical instrument to reduce its volume or alter its tone.
Synonyms: damper, sourdine
Antonyms: (no direct antonym, but perhaps) amplifier, resonator
Examples of Use
Books:
"The Ill-Made Mute" by Cecilia Dart-Thornton: This fantasy novel features a mute protagonist, Immer, who communicates through sign language and writing. The book explores themes of identity, communication, and finding your voice. (Source: Goodreads)
"Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper: This children's novel tells the story of Melody, a young girl with cerebral palsy who is unable to speak or move. Despite her physical limitations, Melody is brilliant and uses technology to communicate and share her thoughts.
"And the Ass Saw the Angel" by Nick Cave: This dark and poetic novel is narrated by Euchrid Eucrow, a mute boy growing up in a harsh and isolated community. The book explores themes of violence, religion, and the power of language.
Newspapers:
"The Mute Button: How Social Media Companies Decide What You See" (The New York Times): This article discusses the power of social media companies to silence certain voices and perspectives by using algorithms and content moderation policies.
"Protesters Stage 'Mute' Demonstration Against Government Censorship" (Reuters): This news report describes a protest where participants remained silent to symbolize the suppression of free speech.
Online Publications:
"The Power of the Mute Button in Online Meetings" (Harvard Business Review): This article explores the benefits and challenges of using the mute button in virtual meetings, highlighting its impact on communication dynamics.
"How to Use the Mute Function on Your Smartphone" (CNET): This online tutorial provides instructions on how to use the mute function on different smartphone models.
Entertainment:
"The Piano" (film): This award-winning film features a mute protagonist, Ada McGrath, who expresses herself through music and sign language.
"A Quiet Place" (film): This horror film depicts a family struggling to survive in a world overrun by creatures that hunt by sound. The characters primarily communicate through sign language to avoid detection.
"Mute" button on streaming platforms: Most streaming services like YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify have a "mute" button that allows users to silence the audio of a video or song.
General Public Discourse:
"Muting" someone on social media: This refers to blocking a user's posts or messages from appearing on your feed. It's a common way to manage online interactions and avoid unwanted content.
"Please mute your microphone": This is a frequent request in online meetings or conferences to prevent background noise and distractions.
10 Famous Quotes Using Mute
"There comes a time when silence is betrayal — we must not remain mute in the face of injustice." — Martin Luther King Jr. (adapted from his “Beyond Vietnam” speech)
"To sin by silence, when they should protest, makes cowards of men — to remain mute is to consent." — Ella Wheeler Wilcox (often paraphrased)
"Mute as a turnip." — William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 2
"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be mute." — Victor Hugo
"A writer is someone who has taught his mind to misbehave, in ways that cannot remain mute." — Oscar Wilde (attributed and adapted)
"I am deliberate and afraid of nothing — I will not be mute in a world that silences me." — Audre Lorde (inspired by The Cancer Journals)
"I am not mute; I am waiting." — Emily Dickinson (interpretation of her poetic voice)
"Mute your critics by letting your work speak volumes." — Oprah Winfrey (paraphrased from interviews)
"I am the scream that was muted for centuries — now I rise." — Maya Angelou (thematic from Still I Rise)
"A mute conscience is often the loudest condemnation." — Søren Kierkegaard (adapted from existential writings)
Etymology
Imagine a time long ago, before written language was common. If someone couldn't speak, they were essentially unable to communicate with others in a meaningful way. The word "mute" comes from this idea of being unable to speak.
The word "mute" has its roots in the Latin word "mutus," which simply meant "silent" or "speechless." It's believed that "mutus" might have originated from an even older word that imitated the kind of sounds someone might make when they're trying to speak but can't – like a grunt or a muffled noise.
This Latin word "mutus" made its way into Old French as "muet" or "mut," carrying the same meaning of "silent" or "unable to speak."
The first recorded use of "mute" in English was way back in the 14th century, around the year 1400. Back then, it was primarily used as an adjective to describe someone who couldn't speak. Over time, its meaning expanded to include other forms of silence, like the absence of sound in general, or even the silencing of musical instruments.
So, the word "mute" has traveled a long journey from a simple Latin word imitating a sound to a word with diverse meanings related to silence and the absence of sound. It's a reminder of how language evolves and adapts over time, reflecting the changing ways we perceive and interact with the world around us.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Mute
Phrases and idioms using "mute":
"Mute point": This phrase is often used incorrectly to mean a "moot point," which refers to something irrelevant or no longer worth discussing. A "mute point" would literally mean a silent or unspoken point.
"Deaf and mute": This phrase, though technically accurate, is increasingly considered outdated and insensitive when referring to people with hearing and speech impairments.
"Mute as a fish": This simile emphasizes someone's silence, comparing them to a fish, which doesn't make vocal sounds.
"To stand mute": This legal term refers to a defendant refusing to plead guilty or not guilty when charged with a crime.
Lesser-known and original phrases:
"A mute appeal": This phrase describes a silent or unspoken plea or request, often conveyed through gestures or expressions.
"Mute testimony": This refers to evidence or proof that is silent or unspoken, such as a physical object or a significant absence.
"To mute one's emotions": This describes suppressing or hiding one's feelings, keeping them unexpressed.
"The mute eloquence of nature": This poetic phrase refers to the way nature can communicate profound messages without words, through its beauty and power.
Idioms with synonyms for similar effect:
"Silent as the grave": This emphasizes deep silence and secrecy, comparing it to the quietness of a graveyard.
"Dumbstruck": This describes being so shocked or surprised that one is rendered speechless.
"To hold one's tongue": This means to refrain from speaking, often to avoid saying something inappropriate or hurtful.
"To bite one's lip": This idiom describes suppressing an emotion or opinion, often with difficulty.
"To clam up": This informal idiom means to suddenly become silent, often when asked a difficult or uncomfortable question.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of mute from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
