muffled

Everyday

1. (adjective) Quiet and unclear because something is in the way, as in "a muffled voice". tree →
2. Made a sound quieter by covering it. tree →
3. Wrapped up warmly, as in "muffled up in scarves". tree →

In the lessons

Used in science (sound travels less well through soft materials, which absorb it) and a lot in stories to build mystery: "a muffled cry", "muffled footsteps", "muffled voices behind the door". Phrases: "muffled up", "a muffled sound".

Examples

• I heard muffled voices from the next room. tree →
• Her answer was muffled because her face was in the pillow. tree →
• The snow muffled the sound of our footsteps. tree →
• There was a muffled thump in the attic. tree →
• We wrapped the alarm clock in a towel and its ring was muffled. tree →
• The children were muffled up in coats and scarves. tree →
• In science we tested which materials muffled sound best. tree →
• A queer sound could be heard, soft as a little bell, and faint and muffled like the buzz of a far-away mosquito. tree →

Note

Spelling: double f. Adjective use is the most common ("a muffled shout"). Related: "muffler" (an old word for a scarf; in the US, the part of a car that makes the engine quieter).