muffler

C2 Topic:Transportation

US /ˈmʌflɚ/ UK /ˈmʌflə/ See IPA manual

Freq #24851

Meanings

1

noun
a device in a vehicle's exhaust system that reduces engine noise; in British English, a silencer

A hole in the car's muffler made the engine sound much louder.
2

noun
a device that reduces unwanted mechanical or acoustic noise

The technician fitted a muffler to reduce vibration noise from the machine.
3

noun
an old-fashioned thick scarf worn around the neck for warmth

He wrapped a woollen muffler around his neck before stepping into the snow.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a device in a vehicle's... silencer

2 noun · a device that reduces... damper silencer

3 noun · an old-fashioned thick... scarf

Word family

Forms mufflers

Derived forms muffleredmufflerless

Related forms muffle exhaust scarf damper

Etymology

From muffle + the agent suffix -er. Muffle entered Middle English with the sense "wrap or cover up" and is probably related to Old French moufle ("mitten"). Muffler consequently named something that wraps or deadens: first a warm neck covering, then devices that suppress sound, including the North American term for a vehicle's exhaust silencer.

Topics

Transportation

External links

# muffler

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈmʌflɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈmʌflə/
**Frequency rank:** 24851

## Meanings
1. a device in a vehicle's exhaust system that reduces engine noise; in British English, a silencer
2. a device that reduces unwanted mechanical or acoustic noise
3. an old-fashioned thick scarf worn around the neck for warmth

## Examples
- A hole in the car's muffler made the engine sound much louder.
- The technician fitted a muffler to reduce vibration noise from the machine.
- He wrapped a woollen muffler around his neck before stepping into the snow.

## Synonyms
- silencer
- damper
- scarf

## Derived Forms
- mufflered
- mufflerless

## Related Forms
- muffle
- exhaust
- scarf
- damper

## Etymology
From muffle + the agent suffix -er. Muffle entered Middle English with the sense "wrap or cover up" and is probably related to Old French moufle ("mitten"). Muffler consequently named something that wraps or deadens: first a warm neck covering, then devices that suppress sound, including the North American term for a vehicle's exhaust silencer.

## Topics
- Transportation

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