muffle

¹ American  

[muhf-uhl] / ˈmʌf əl /

verb (used with object)

muffled, muffling

1. to wrap with something to deaden or prevent sound.

   to muffle drums.

2. to deaden (sound) by wrappings or other means.

3. to wrap or envelop in a cloak, shawl, coat, etc., especially to keep warm or protect the face and neck (often followed byup ).

   Muffle up the children before they go out.

4. to wrap (oneself) in a garment or other covering.

   muffled in silk.

5. to alter temporarily the profile of (a plaster mold) in order to run a base coat of plaster that will later be covered by a finish coat having the true profile.

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noun

1. something that muffles.

2. muffled sound.

3. an oven or arched chamber in a furnace or kiln, used for heating substances without direct contact with the fire.

muffle ² American  

[muhf-uhl] / ˈmʌf əl /

noun

1. the thick, bare part of the upper lip and nose of ruminants and rodents.

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muffle ¹ British  

/ ˈmʌfəl /

verb

1. (often foll by up) to wrap up (the head) in a scarf, cloak, etc, esp for warmth

2. to deaden (a sound or noise), esp by wrapping

3. to prevent (the expression of something) by (someone)

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noun

1. something that muffles

2. a kiln with an inner chamber for firing porcelain, enamel, etc, at a low temperature

muffle ² British  

/ ˈmʌfəl /

noun

1. the fleshy hairless part of the upper lip and nose in ruminants and some rodents

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Etymology

Origin of muffle¹

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English muffelen “to veil, cover”; probably a derivative of Old French moufle “mitten”; muff

Origin of muffle²

First recorded in 1600–10; from Middle French mufle “muzzle, snout,” probably blend of moufle “chubby face” and museau muzzle

Example Sentences

In their place, birdsong and breeze and the gentle hum of muffled conversations floated all around them.

From Literature

A muffled voice sang from the heap, “A fox! A fox! What do you know? A fox!”

From Literature

All day the blanketing fog hung over Ravensbruck, an eerie day when sound was muffled and the sun never rose.

From Literature

Anyway, when Tansy went to ringing that bell in the morning to call us inside, she’d get nothing but a muffled thump.

From Literature

The fog muffled sounds and made distances hard to judge.

From Literature

Related Words

• dampen
• deaden
• envelop
• hush
• mute
• muzzle
• soft pedal
• squelch
• stifle
• subdue
• tone down