buzz1

[buhz] /bʌz/
noun
1.
a low, vibrating, humming sound, as of bees, machinery, or people talking.
2.
a rumor or report.
3.
Informal. a phone call:
When I find out, I'll give you a buzz.
4.
Slang.
  1. a feeling of intense enthusiasm, excitement, or exhilaration:
    I got a terrific buzz from those Pacific sunsets.
  2. a feeling of slight intoxication.
verb (used without object)
5.
to make a low, vibrating, humming sound.
6.
to speak or murmur with such a sound.
7.
to be filled with the sound of buzzing or whispering:
The room buzzed.
8.
to whisper; gossip:
Everyone is buzzing about the scandal.
9.
to move busily from place to place.
10.
Slang. to go; leave (usually followed by off or along):
I'll buzz along now. Tell him to buzz off and leave me alone.
verb (used with object)
11.
to make a buzzing sound with:
The fly buzzed its wings.
12.
to tell or spread (a rumor, gossip, etc.) secretively.
13.
to signal or summon with a buzzer:
He buzzed his secretary.
14.
Informal. to make a phone call to.
15.
Aeronautics.
  1. to fly a plane very low over:
    to buzz a field.
  2. to signal or greet (someone) by flying a plane low and slowing the motor spasmodically.
Idioms
16.
have / get a buzz on, Slang. to be slightly intoxicated:
After a few beers they all had a buzz on.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English busse; imitative
Related forms
buzzingly, adverb
British Dictionary definitions for buzz off

buzz off

verb
1.
(intransitive, adverb; often imperative) (informal, mainly Brit) to go away; leave; depart

buzz

/bʌz/
noun
1.
a rapidly vibrating humming sound, as that of a prolonged z or of a bee in flight
2.
a low sound, as of many voices in conversation
3.
a rumour; report; gossip
4.
(informal) a telephone call: I'll give you a buzz
5.
(slang)
  1. a pleasant sensation, as from a drug such as cannabis
  2. a sense of excitement; kick
verb
6.
(intransitive) to make a vibrating sound like that of a prolonged z
7.
(intransitive) to talk or gossip with an air of excitement or urgency: the town buzzed with the news
8.
(transitive) to utter or spread (a rumour)
9.
(intransitive) often foll by about. to move around quickly and busily; bustle
10.
(transitive) to signal or summon with a buzzer
11.
(transitive) (informal) to call by telephone
12.
(transitive) (informal)
  1. to fly an aircraft very low over (an object): to buzz a ship
  2. to fly an aircraft very close to or across the path of (another aircraft), esp to warn or intimidate
13.
(transitive) (esp of insects) to make a buzzing sound with (wings, etc)
See also buzz in
Derived Forms
buzzing, noun, adjective
Word Origin
C16: of imitative origin
Word Origin and History for buzz off

buzz

v.

late 15c., echoic of bees and other insects. Aviation sense of "fly low and close" is by 1941 (see buzz (n.)). Related: Buzzed; buzzing. Buzz off (1914) originally meant "to ring off on the telephone," from the use of buzzers to signal a call or message on old systems. As a command, it originally would have been telling someone to get off the line.

n.

"a busy rumour" [Rowe], 1620s (earlier "a fancy," c.1600), figurative use from buzz (v.). Literal sense of "humming sound" is from 1640s. A "buzz" was the characteristic sound of an airplane in early 20c.; hence verbal sense "to fly swiftly," by 1928; by 1940 especially in military use, "to fly low over a surface as a warning signal" (e.g. that target practice is about to begin):

The patrol aircraft shall employ the method of warning known as "buzzing" which consists of low flight by the airplane and repeated opening and closing of the throttle. [1941 Supplement to the Code of Federal Regulations of the United States of America," Chap. II, Corps of Engineers, War Department, p. 3434, etc. ]
Meaning "pleasant sense of intoxication" first recorded 1935. The children's game of counting off with 7 or multiples of it replaced by buzz is attested from 1864 and is mentioned in "Little Women" (1868). To give (someone) a buzz (by 1922) is from the buzz that announced a call on old telephone systems.

Slang definitions & phrases for buzz off

buzz off

verb phrase

To depart; toddle off •First form often a command (1914+)


buzz

noun
  1. A telephone call: I think I'll give the Guided Child abuzz (1910+)
  2. ubject of talk; gossip; rumor: What's the buzz, cuz? (1605+)
  3. feeling or surge of pleasure, esp a pleasant sense of intoxication; high: After two Scotches he got a nice buzz (1935+)
  4. A police squad car (1950s+ Teenagers)
verb
  1. To call someone on the telephone; ring: Why not buzz Eddy for the brawl? (1910+)
  2. To talk; converse: The crowd was buzzing about some pretty raunchy divorces (1832+)
  3. To flatter; court (1900+)
  4. o inform someone in confidence, esp by whispering: You'll buzz me later (1950s+)
  5. To announce one's arrival or summon someone by or as if by sounding a buzzer: Buzz when you want me (1950s+)
  6. To beg (1920s+ Hoboes)
  7. To pilfer; rob; hold up (1812+ Underworld)
  8. To question or investigate someone (1930s+ Police & underworld)
  9. To fly an aircraft alarmingly close to something, esp to the ground •A sense ''to flutter or hover about, over, etc,'' is attested from 1650 (WWII air forces)
  10. To roister drunkenly at: They were all buzzing the bar (WWII armed forces)
  11. Kill; waste: They buzz the kid and her baby? (1990s+ Street gang)

Idioms and Phrases with buzz off

buzz off

Go away, leave. For example, The store owner told the teenagers to buzz off and find another place to hang out . This curt imperative dates from World War I. Also see bug off