adj (1)沉默(不出声)的(not speaking;making no sound)：remain (keep)/stand～保持沉默/站着一言不发;The prisoner sat～. 囚犯静静地坐着。be～on the subject/about the plan不发表对该题目/计划的看法;look at sb in～amusement以快乐的目光默默地看着某人;stare at sb in～astonishment 以惊奇的眼光瞪着某人;gaze at sb in～admiration 以敬佩的目光瞧着某人;touch sb's hand in～sympathy无言地抚摸某人的手以示同情;clasp sb's hand in～protest 抓住某人的手以示抗议;She gave him her hand with～thanks.她默默地把手伸给他以示感谢。〖同〗silent，reserved，speechless;

(2)不发音的(not pronounced when spoken)：The“e”in life/“k”in knife/“b”in dumb is～. life中的“e”/knife中的“k”/dumb中的“b”不发音。The word dumb has a～“b”at the end. dumb这个单词的尾字母“b”不发音。〖同〗unsounded，silent，unpronounced;〖反〗pronounced;

(3)哑(不会讲话)的(unable to speak; dumb)(旧用法)：～from birth天生不会讲话;The child has been～since infant.这孩子从小就哑。〖同〗dumb，speechless，voiceless;

【辨异】mute与dumb、speechless和 shut的区别见DUMB。

n (1)哑巴(dumb person)[C](旧用法)：be born a deaf～天生又聋又哑;The queen was served by～s.女王由几个哑巴(指被割掉舌头的人)服侍。

vt (1)减低(声音)(reduce or soften the sound of，esp a musical instrument)[T+n]：～the strings of the violin/the noise of the traffic/the sound of footsteps把小提琴琴声调低/降低交通噪音/使脚步声变轻;The wind～ed its wild call.狂风不再怒吼。

→′muted adj 缄默的;(指声音、颜色、光线)变柔和的;′mutely adv 沉默地，哑然地;′muteness n 沉默