rhizoverbBeta
DictionarymuteLittle or no sound
adjective / verb / noun

mute

MYOOT/mjuːt/

Silent or unable or unwilling to speak.

The television is on mute as a dog barks onscreen.

A television is temporarily without sound: its screen shows a barking dog and a prominent crossed-out speaker icon.
Etymology
muteLatinsilent, speechless

Latin mutus covered both silence and speechlessness. That breadth remains in mute, which can describe either someone unable to speak or someone simply making no sound.

In context

Cornerstone Orlando36:41
are you like this mute man who can't speak anything
Union with Christ in Communion with the Son

More examples

  • She remains mute when reporters ask about her plans.
  • Please mute your phone before the concert begins.
  • The trumpet player uses a mute for the softer passage.

Forms

mute · mutes · muted · muting · muter · mutest

muteness noun — The state of being silent or speechless.

Similar words

silent
Emphasizes an absence of sound, not an inability to speak.
speechless
Often describes a temporary inability to speak from strong emotion.
quiet
Allows some sound rather than requiring complete silence.