buzzing

Buzzing is a term used to describe a low, continuous, vibrating sound perceived by the human ear, and it can also refer to a perceptual phenomenon such as a phantom sound in the absence of external input. The word is used in both natural and technical contexts and can describe actual noises as well as sensory experiences.

In nature, buzzing is most often associated with insects, whose wings or resonant body parts produce a rapid, buzzing tone that can vary with species and flight speed. In technology and industry, buzzing or a continuous hum arises from electrical equipment, transformers, motors, and high‑frequency devices. These noises are typically caused by alternating current, electromagnetic interference, or mechanical resonance, and they may be more noticeable in poorly damped structures or in environments with sensitive acoustics.

Physiological and health-related uses of the term include tinnitus, a condition in which a person perceives a buzzing or ringing sound without an external source. Tinnitus can accompany hearing loss, ear infections, exposure to loud noise, or other medical conditions. Noise exposure that produces a buzzing sound can affect hearing temporarily or, with repeated exposure, permanently. In technical contexts, buzzing is often quantified by its frequency and sound pressure level, measured in hertz and decibels, respectively.

In everyday language, buzzing also denotes a sense of activity or excitement, such as a buzz surrounding a new idea, event, or social situation. See also: Buzz (sound), Tinnitus, Hum (noise), Feedback (acoustics).