droning
droning — adjective
1. making a low sound that continues in the same way for a long time
making a low sound that continues in the same way for a long time
A droning air conditioner filled the clinic waiting room all afternoon.
droning + machine noun
The droning engine made it hard for Hassan to sleep on the bus.
A droning fan above the class kept stirring the hot air.
Droning pipes behind the wall kept the old apartment noisy at night.
- humming
often sounds softer and smoother than droning
- buzzing
usually suggests a higher or sharper sound
- monotonous
focuses on sameness rather than the physical sound itself
文法句型
a droning engine
a droning fan
用法筆記
Usually describes a machine, engine, fan, or similar source that keeps making the same low sound. It often suggests that the noise becomes tiring because it does not stop or vary.
2. speaking in a flat, boring way that goes on without much change
speaking in a flat, boring way that goes on without much change
The teacher's droning voice sent Daniel's thoughts out the window.
droning voice = boring delivery
After ten minutes of the guide's droning speech, the children stopped listening.
A droning announcement repeated the same airport warning every few minutes.
Jude lowered the radio when the host's droning talk annoyed everyone at dinner.
- monotonous
close in meaning but can describe many repeating patterns, not only speech
- tedious
focuses more on the effect of boredom than on the sound
- dreary
more general and often describes mood as well as voice
文法句型
a droning voice
a droning speech
用法筆記
Used for speech that sounds dull because the voice stays level and repetitive. It is more negative than 'calm' or 'quiet' and usually implies that listeners lose interest.
droning — noun
1. a low sound that keeps going in the same dull way for some time
a low sound that keeps going in the same dull way for some time
The droning from the old fridge followed Amelia into the kitchen.
the droning from + source
Outside the tent, a steady droning came from insects in the grass.
The room fell quiet except for the droning of the classroom projector.
Noor tried to ignore the droning overhead and finish homework.
- silence
complete lack of sound
文法句型
the droning of + noun
droning from + place
用法筆記
Often used as an uncountable noun for a background sound that continues and becomes annoying. It commonly appears with a phrase that names the source of the noise.
常見錯誤
droning — verb
1. making a low, steady humming sound for a period of time
making a low, steady humming sound for a period of time
A small plane droned above the lake as Felipe packed the picnic.
droned above + place
From the next room, the washing machine droned through the whole film.
Bees droned around the peach tree while Sora picked fruit below.
An old speaker droned in the corner during the morning meeting.
- fall silent
to stop making sound
文法句型
droning above + place
droning in + place
用法筆記
Usually used of engines, insects, aircraft, or speakers rather than people. When the meaning is about a boring speaking style, English more often uses the adjective in phrases like 'a droning voice'.