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humming (adj.)

1570s, "that hums," present-participle adjective from hum (v.). Meaning "brisk, vigorous, energetic" is from 1680s. Related: Hummingly. Humming-bird (1630s) so called from sound made by the rapid vibration of its wings.

There is a curious bird to see to, called a humming bird, no bigger then a great Beetle. [Thomas Morton, "New English Canaan," 1637]

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Definitions of humming from WordNet

humming (n.)
a humming noise;
Synonyms: hum
humming (n.)
the act of singing with closed lips;
From wordnet.princeton.edu