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bourdonner

buzz, hum

verb boor-doh-NEH Rare

Usage Note

Bourdonner describes the sustained low hum of bees, engines, or electrical equipment, and also the ringing or buzzing sensation in one's ears (les oreilles lui bourdonnent). The related noun is bourdonnement (buzzing, hum). It is onomatopoeic in origin.

Examples

"Les abeilles bourdonnaient autour des fleurs."

Natural Translation

The bees were buzzing around the flowers.

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