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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

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.
[1913 Webster]

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}.
[1913 Webster]

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.
[1913 Webster]


T \T\ (t[=e]),
the twentieth letter of the English alphabet, is a nonvocal
consonant. With the letter h it forms the digraph th, which
has two distinct sounds, as in thin, then. See Guide to
Pronunciation, [sect][sect]262-264, and also [sect][sect]153,
156, 169, 172, 176, 178-180.
[1913 Webster] The letter derives its name and form from the
Latin, the form of the Latin letter being further derived
through the Greek from the Ph[oe]nician. The ultimate origin
is probably Egyptian. It is etymologically most nearly
related to d, s, th; as in tug, duke; two, dual, L. duo;
resin, L. resina, Gr. "rhti`nh, tent, tense, a., tenuous,
thin; nostril, thrill. See {D}, {S}.
[1913 Webster]

{T bandage} (Surg.), a bandage shaped like the letter T, and
used principally for application to the groin, or
perineum.

{T cart}, a kind of fashionable two seated wagon for pleasure
driving.

{T iron}.
(a) A rod with a short crosspiece at the end, -- used as a
hook.
(b) Iron in bars, having a cross section formed like the
letter T, -- used in structures.

{T rail}, a kind of rail for railroad tracks, having no
flange at the bottom so that a section resembles the
letter T.

{T square}, a ruler having a crosspiece or head at one end,
for the purpose of making parallel lines; -- so called
from its shape. It is laid on a drawing board and guided
by the crosspiece, which is pressed against the straight
edge of the board. Sometimes the head is arranged to be
set at different angles.

{To a T}, exactly, perfectly; as, to suit to a T. [Colloq.]
[1913 Webster]