deaf

deaf
[[t]de̱f[/t]]
deafer, deafest
1) ADJ-GRADED Someone who is deaf is unable to hear anything or is unable to hear very well.

She is now profoundly deaf.

Derived words:
deafness N-UNCOUNT

Because of her deafness she was hard to make conversation with.

N-PLURAL: the N
The deaf are people who are deaf.

Many regular TV programs are captioned for the deaf.

2) ADJ: v-link ADJ to n (disapproval) If you say that someone is deaf to people's requests, arguments, or criticisms, you are criticizing them because they refuse to pay attention to them.

The provincial assembly were deaf to all pleas for financial help.

Syn:
3) to fall on deaf ears → see ear
to turn a deaf ear → see ear

English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?
Synonyms:
, ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • deaf — W3 [def] adj [: Old English;] 1.) physically unable to hear anything or unable to hear well →↑hearing impaired ▪ communication between deaf and hearing people ▪ I think Mum s going a bit deaf . ▪ She s deaf and dumb (=unable to hear or speak) and …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Deaf — (d[e^]f or d[=e]f; 277), a. [OE. def, deaf, deef, AS. de[ a]f; akin to D. doof, G. taub, Icel. daufr, Dan. d[ o]v, Sw. d[ o]f, Goth. daubs, and prob. to E. dumb (the original sense being, dull as applied to one of the senses), and perh. to Gr.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • deaf — [ def ] adjective ** not able to hear anything, or not able to hear very well. Many deaf people wear a hearing aid to help them hear. Deaf people often use their hands to communicate in sign language, and many can lip read what other people are… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • deaf — O.E. deaf deaf, also empty, barren, specialized from P.Gmc. *daubaz (Cf. O.S. dof, O.N. daufr, O.Fris. daf, Du. doof deaf, Ger. taub, Goth. daufs deaf, insensate ), from PIE dheubh , which was used to form words meaning confusion, stupefaction,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • deaf — deaf; deaf·en; deaf·en·ing·ly; deaf·ish; deaf·ly; deaf·ness; …   English syllables

  • deaf — ► ADJECTIVE 1) without the faculty of hearing or having impaired hearing. 2) (deaf to) unwilling to listen or respond to. ● fall on deaf ears Cf. ↑fall on deaf ears ● turn a deaf ear Cf. ↑tu …   English terms dictionary

  • deaf — [adj1] without hearing deafened, earless, hard of hearing, stone deaf*, unable to hear; concept 591 Ant. hearing deaf [adj2] unwilling bullheaded*, headstrong, indifferent, intractable, mulish*, oblivious, obstinate, pertinacious, perverse,… …   New thesaurus

  • deaf — [def] adj. [ME def < OE deaf, akin to Ger taub, Goth * daufs < IE * dheubh , misty, obscured < base * dheu : see DULL] 1. totally or partially unable to hear 2. unwilling to hear or listen; giving no heed [deaf to her pleas] deafly adv.… …   English World dictionary

  • Deaf — (?; 277), v. t. To deafen. [Obs.] Dryden. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • deaf|en — «DEHF uhn», transitive verb. 1. to make deaf: »A hard blow on the ear deafened him for life. 2. to stun with noise: »A sudden explosion deafened us for a moment. 3. to drown out by a louder sound. 4. to make soundproof; deaden …   Useful english dictionary

  • deaf — index heedless, incognizant, insensible, insusceptible (uncaring) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

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