mute
/mju:t; mjut/ adj
1 silent; making no sound沉默的; 无声的
stare in mute amazement, admiration, astonishment, etc 惊奇、 钦佩、 惊讶等而目瞪口呆 * remain mute 保持沉默.
2 (dated 旧) (of people) unable to speak; dumb （指人）不能说话的, 哑的
mute from birth 生来就哑的.
3 (of a letter in a written word) not pronounced when spoken （指字中字母）不发音的
The `b' in `dumb' is mute. 在dumb一字中b不发音. mute, n
1
(a) piece of metal, plastic, etc used to soften the sounds produced from a stringed instrument 弱音器（使弦乐器发声柔和的金属、 塑料等附件）.
(b) pad placed in the opening of a wind instrument to change the quality of the sounds produced 弱音器（改变管乐器音质用的管口塞头）. =>illus at App 1 见附录1插图, page x.
2 (dated 旧) dumb person 哑巴. mute, v [Tn esp passive 尤用於被动语态]
make the sound of (esp a musical instrument) quieter or softer, esp with a mute 使声音（尤指乐器声）减弱, 柔和（尤指用弱音器）
The strings are muted throughout the closing bars of the symphony. 该交响曲结束部分各节中的弦乐全为弱化音. muted adj
1 (of sounds) quiet and often indistinct （指声音）弱化的, （常指）微弱不清的
They spoke in muted voices. 他们轻声说话.
2 not openly or vigorously expressed 非公开或非强烈表达的; 暗中的
muted excitement 内心的激动
muted criticism 温和的批评.
3 (of musical instruments) fitted with a mute （指乐器）装有弱音器的
muted strings 装有弱音器的琴弦.
4 (of colours) not bright; subdued （指颜色）不耀眼的, 柔和的
muted greens and blues 各种柔和的绿色和蓝色.