\Mute\, v. t. [L. mutare to change. See {Molt}.]
To cast off; to molt.
      Have I muted all my feathers?            --Beau. & Fl.

\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.

\Mute\, n.
The dung of birds. --Hudibras.

\Mute\, a. [L. mutus; cf. Gr. ? to shut, Skr. m?ta bound,
m?ka dumb: cf. OE. muet, fr. F. muet, a dim. of OF. mu, L.
mutus.]
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. --Dryden.
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} (Zo["o]l.), a European wild white swan ({Cygnus
   gibbus}), which produces no loud notes.
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\, 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.
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}.
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.