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Glite Dictionary
to bombilate

to bombilate

9.9
Make a low buzzing sound like bees
  • verb
  • /ˈbɑːmbɪleɪt/
  • Archaic
translation icon : zumbir
  • As the sun set, the calm evening was filled with the soothing sound of cicadas bombilating in the trees.

Examples

  • The faint sound of insects bombilating filled the hot, drowsy afternoon.

  • The air was heavy and still, disturbed only by flies bombilating near the fruit bowl.

  • Every summer, bees bombilate in the garden as they search for nectar.

  • The bees bombilate.

  • Why do the cicadas bombilate so loudly at night?

  • In the warm meadow, you could hear bees bombilate as they hovered near the blooming flowers.

  • During the summer picnic, the background buzz of mosquitoes bombilating was hard to ignore.

Synonyms

to buzz
vsto bombilate
42 1.1

To make a low steady sound like a bee

is specific to insect or droning sounds rather than general vibration
whirr
vsto bombilate
4 7.4

A soft, steady buzzing sound from things that move fast like fan blades

emphasizes insect sound source rather than movement causing noise
to drone
vsto bombilate
1 5.8

To make a long low steady sound

is focused on insect buzzing rather than dull monotone speech
to bombinate
vsto bombilate
  • Archaic
9.9

To make a low buzzing sound like bees

is identical in meaning and is the main dictionary entry
to burr
vsto bombilate
7.9

To make a low buzzing or humming sound

focuses especially on buzzing by insects rather than general whirring
to bizz
vsto bombilate
9.9

To make a short low buzzing sound like a small electronic motor or insect

describes continuous insect buzzing rather than brief mechanical sounds
to churr
vsto bombilate
  • UK
9.9

Make a low, vibrating sound that repeats, like a bird or insect

is buzzing or droning rather than a bright trilling vibration
to chir
vsto bombilate
9.3

To make a short high sound like a bird or insect

is a steady buzzing sound not the quick trills of birds

How Loud

to roar
98 1.0
to bombilate
  • Archaic
9.9
to hum
49 1.0
murmur
36 4.1

Surface Forms

bombilate infinitive
bombilated past
bombilated past participle
bombilating present participle
bombilates third person singular

Etymology

The word bombilate comes from the old sound root bomb-, from Latin bombus meaning 'a deep buzzing sound'. Think of a bumblebee or a low 'hum', and you get the idea of bombilating — making a steady buzzing or droning noise.