DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Mute, a.
 1. Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent.
 All the heavenly choir stood mute,
 And silence was in heaven.   --Milton.
 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.
 2. Incapable of speaking; dumb.
 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.
 4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a metal.
 Mute swan Zool., a European wild white swan (Cygnus olor syn. Cygnus gibbus), which produces no loud notes, in distinction from the Trumpeter swan.
 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.
 They spake not a word;
 But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones,
 Gazed each on other.   --Shak.
 All sat mute,
 Pondering the danger with deep thoughts.   --Milton.

 mute swan
      n : soundless Eurasian swan; commonly domesticated [syn: Cygnus
          olor]