mute

dumb, mute

名词 mute:

1. a deaf person who is unable to speak
   同义词：deaf-mute, deaf-and-dumb person
2. a device used to soften the tone of a musical instrument

动词 mute:

1. deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping
   同义词：muffle, dull, damp, dampen, tone down

形容词 mute:

1. expressed without speech; especially because words would be inappropriate or inadequate- Thomas Wolfe
   同义词：tongueless, unspoken, wordless
2. lacking power of speech
   同义词：tongueless
3. unable to speak because of hereditary deafness
   同义词：dumb, silent

1. He's a deaf mute and cannot tell anyone secret.
   他是个聋哑人，不会把他们的秘密告诉任何人。
2. He's mute on the subject of social system.
   他对社会制度的问题保持沉默。

mute

adj.（形容词）
mut.er,mut.est
Refraining from producing speech or vocal sound.
缄默的：不说话的或不发出声音的

Unable to speak.
不能说话的
Unable to vocalize, as certain animals.See Synonyms at dumb
不能发音的，如某些动物参见 dumb
Expressed without speech; unspoken:
不用言语表达的；无声的：
例句：
a mute appeal.
无声的恳求

Law Refusing to plead when under arraignment.
【法律】 故意不答辨：当被指控时拒不答辩的
Linguistics
【语言学】
Not pronounced; silent, as thee in the word house.
哑音的：哑音的；不发音的，比如e 在单词 house
Pronounced with a temporary stoppage of breath, as the sounds (p) and (b); plosive; stopped.
停顿的：发音时气流自短暂闭塞的，如辅音(p)和(b)；爆裂的；停顿的
n.（名词）
Offensive One who is incapable of speech.
【无礼用语】 哑巴
Law A defendant who refuses to plead when under arraignment.
【法律】 当被指控时拒不答辩的被告
Music Any of various devices used to muffle or soften the tone of an instrument.
【音乐】 弱音器：任何一种用来消除或者减弱乐器的音的仪器
Linguistics
【语言学】
A silent letter.
哑音
A plosive; a stop.
爆裂音；塞音
v.tr.（及物动词）
mut.ed,mut.ing,mutes
To soften or muffle the sound of.
减弱…的声音
To soften the tone, color, shade, or hue of.
使…柔和：使声音、颜色、暗影或色度变得柔和

来源：
Middle English muet
中古英语 muet
from Old French [from diminutive of] mu
源自 古法语 [] 源自mu的小后缀
from Latin môtus
源自 拉丁语 môtus

【引伸】
mute.ly
adv.（副词）
mute.ness
n.（名词）