Library / English Dictionary

MUFFLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A kiln with an inner chamber for firing things at a low temperature

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("muffle" is a kind of...):

kiln (a furnace for firing or burning or drying such things as porcelain or bricks)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Suppress in order to conceal or hide

Example:

repress a cry of fear

Synonyms:

muffle; repress; smother; stifle; strangle

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "muffle" is one way to...):

bottle up; inhibit; suppress (consciously restrain from showing; of emotions, desires, impulses, or behavior)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping

Synonyms:

damp; dampen; dull; muffle; mute; tone down

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "muffle" is one way to...):

soften (make (images or sounds) soft or softer)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

muffler (a device that decreases the amplitude of electronic, mechanical, acoustical, or aerodynamic oscillations)

muffler (a tubular acoustic device inserted in the exhaust system that is designed to reduce noise)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Many people were moving to and fro, most of them muffled in their coats and cravats.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At the doorway of the Howe Street flats a man, muffled in a cravat and greatcoat, was leaning against the railing.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The fog still slept on the wing above the drowned city, where the lamps glimmered like carbuncles; and through the muffle and smother of these fallen clouds, the procession of the town’s life was still rolling in through the great arteries with a sound as of a mighty wind.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Be that as it might, I seemed to see that woman’s figure still clutching at her treasure trove and flying wildly up the winding stair, with her ears ringing perhaps with the muffled screams from behind her and with the drumming of frenzied hands against the slab of stone which was choking her faithless lover’s life out.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It came to my ears as a muffled roar.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

That was all of the incident, but he heard Ruth muffle a dry sob in her throat, and noticed that she turned her face away to gaze out of the window.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

His meals were interrupted by the frequent flight of the presiding genius, who deserted him, half-helped, if a muffled chirp sounded from the nest above.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

They were far off, but the sound, even though coming muffled through the deadening snowfall, was full of terror.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Floating on with closed eyes and muffled ears, you neither see the rocks bristling not far off in the bed of the flood, nor hear the breakers boil at their base.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

A few minutes later he was disturbed by a gentle creaking of his own door, as though some one were pushing cautiously against it, and immediately afterwards he heard the soft thud of cautious footsteps upon the stair which led to the room above, followed by a confused noise and a muffled groan.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)