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bum

Dialect
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A colloquial term often used to describe something of poor quality or a disreputable place.

Detailed Definition
In this context, 'bum' is used to characterize a city or location that is perceived negatively, suggesting decay or disarray. This informal usage adds a layer of emotional resonance to the poem, reflecting the speaker's disdain or disappointment with their surroundings. Such language can evoke a strong sense of place and atmosphere in poetry.
Example
Example in poetry:
"Because there stands, one story out of the bum city" (Scots for 'bottom' or low part); "The bum of the hill" (geographical); "In the bum end of the town" (social); "The bum of the barrel" (containers); "From the bum to the top" (vertical)
Additional Notes
The term 'bum' conveys a specific emotional tone regarding the city, as seen in the quoted evidence.; Found in the poem, Because the pleasure-bird whistles by Dylan Thomas
Also Known As
rear end vagabond idle loafer bum variant
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