Mute \Mute\ (m[=u]t), v. t. [L. mutare to change. See {Molt}.]
   To cast off; to molt.
   
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         Have I muted all my feathers?            --Beau. & Fl.
   
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Mute \Mute\, v. t. & i. [F. mutir, ['e]meutir, OF. esmeltir, fr.
   OD. smelten, prop., to melt. See {Smelt}.]
   To eject the contents of the bowels; -- said of birds. --B.
   Jonson.
   
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Mute \Mute\, n.
   The dung of birds. --Hudibras.
   
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Mute \Mute\, a. [L. mutus; cf. Gr. my`ein to shut, Skr. m[=u]ta
   bound, m[=u]ka dumb: cf. OE. muet, fr. F. muet, a dim. of OF.
   mu, L. mutus.]
   1. Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent.
      
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            All the heavenly choir stood mute,
            And silence was in heaven.            --Milton.
      
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   Note: In law a prisoner is said to stand mute, when, upon
         being arranged, he makes no answer, or does not plead
         directly, or will not put himself on trial.
         
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   2. Incapable of speaking; dumb. --Dryden.
      
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   3. Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also, produced by
      complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt the
      passage of breath; -- said of certain letters. See 5th
      {Mute}, 2.
      
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   4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a
      metal.
      
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   {Mute swan} (Zool.), a European wild white swan ({Cygnus  olor} syn. {Cygnus gibbus}), which produces no loud notes,
      in distinction from the {Trumpeter swan}.
      
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   Syn: Silent; dumb; speechless.

   Usage: {Mute}, {Silent}, {Dumb}. One is silent who does not
          speak; one is dumb who can not, for want of the proper
          organs; as, a dumb beast, etc.; and hence,
          figuratively, we speak of a person as struck dumb with
          astonishment, etc. One is mute who is held back from
          speaking by some special cause; as, he was mute
          through fear; mute astonishment, etc. Such is the case
          with most of those who never speak from childhood;
          they are not ordinarily dumb, but mute because they
          are deaf, and therefore never learn to talk; and hence
          their more appropriate name is deaf-mutes.
          
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                They spake not a word;
                But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones,
                Gazed each on other.              --Shak.
          
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                All sat mute,
                Pondering the danger with deep thoughts.
                                                  --Milton.
          
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Mute \Mute\, n.
   1. One who does not speak, whether from physical inability,
      unwillingness, or other cause. Specifically:
      (a) One who, from deafness, either congenital or from
          early life, is unable to use articulate language; a
          deaf-mute.
      (b) A person employed by undertakers at a funeral.
      (c) A person whose part in a play does not require him to
          speak.
      (d) Among the Turks, an officer or attendant who is
          selected for his place because he can not speak.
          
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   2. (Phon.) A letter which represents no sound; a silent
      letter; also, a close articulation; an element of speech
      formed by a position of the mouth organs which stops the
      passage of the breath; as, {p}, {b}, {d}, {k}, {t}.
      
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   3. (Mus.) A little utensil made of brass, ivory, or other
      material, so formed that it can be fixed in an erect
      position on the bridge of a violin, or similar instrument,
      in order to deaden or soften the tone.
      
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