deaf

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   people who have severe hearing impairments

   many of the deaf use sign language

2. 2
   verb

   make or render deaf

   a deafening noise

3. 3
   adj

   Unable (or partially able) to hear.

   My brother has been deaf since sustaining injuries in the war.

4. 4
   adj

   Unwilling to listen or be persuaded; determinedly inattentive.

   Those people are deaf to reason.

5. 5
   adj

   Of or relating to the community of deaf people.

   The best place to fight Hollywood deafism is in our deaf schools. If we give our children understanding and appreciation of our rich culture and sign language, the students will gain a deaf heritage and become more creative, more aware, and more assertive global deaf citizens.

6. 6
   adj

   Obscurely heard; stifled; deadened.

   A deaf murmur through the squadron went.

7. 7
   adj

   Decayed; tasteless; useless.

   a deaf nut; deaf corn

8. 8
   noun

   A deaf person.

   Among the second group of philanthropic educational institutions the institutes for the deafs and dumbs must be mentioned.

Etymology

From Middle English def, deef, from Old English dēaf, from Proto-West Germanic *daub, from Proto-Germanic *daubaz, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- (“to whisk, smoke, darken, obscure”). Cognate with Ancient Greek τυφλός (tuphlós, “blind”). See also dumb. Doublet of daff, dof, and dowf.