Standard Lemma guide

bombinate

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈbɒmbɪneɪt/

1

verb

Meaning 1

to buzz or hum; to speak idly, vacuously, or to little effect.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

make a buzzing sound

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • bees were buzzing around the hive

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: buzz, bombilate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sound, go

History

Etymology

From Medieval Latin bombināre (“buzz, hum”), variant of Latin bombilō, from Ancient Greek βομβυλιάζειν (bombuliázein), from βόμβος (bómbos, “booming, humming”), of imitative origin.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: бръмча (brǎmča) — buzz or hum
  • Bulgarian: жужа (žuža) — buzz or hum