muffle
MUF-uhl
/ˈmʌfəl/
To deaden, soften, or prevent the sound of something by wrapping or covering it.
Focuses on the physical obstruction of sound, making it quiet by force or barrier.
The story behind the word. From the Old French 'mofler' (to wrap up, muffle), which comes from 'molf' (soft). Originally, it referred to wrapping hands in warm mittens, then evolved to mean wrapping anything to deaden its sound.
Word relationships
- deaden: Deaden is to make any sensation or sound less intense, while muffle specifically implies wrapping or covering to quiet a sound.
- amplify: Amplify is to increase the volume or strength of a sound, the opposite of muffling it.
Commonly confused with
- quiet: Quiet is to make silent, while muffle specifically means to make a sound duller and less distinct by covering it.
Word family
- muffler (noun): A device used to deaden the sound of an engine or a scarf wrapped around the neck.
Collocations
- muffle a sound
- muffled laughter
- muffled footsteps
Example sentences
- "We used a thick wool blanket to muffle the sound of the loud alarm clock so we wouldn't wake the baby." Trying to sleep through a loud alarm.
Memory hook
Imagine wrapping a muffler scarf around a microphone to muffle the sound. Muffle is to wrap up a sound to make it soft.
When not to use
Do not use when someone is speaking quietly of their own volition without any physical barrier.
Fun facts
- A car's 'muffler' is specifically designed to muffle the loud acoustic pressure of the engine's exhaust.
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