deafness C1 Topic:Abstract Ideas US /ˈdɛfnəs/ UK /ˈdɛfnəs/ See IPA manual Freq #43860 Meanings 1 noun The condition of being deaf; the lack or loss of the ability to hear. Paul wet his lips with his tongue, read: “ ‘Think you of I the fact that a deaf person cannot hear. Then, what deafness may we not all possess? What senses do we lack that we cannot see and cannot hear another world all around us? What is there around us that we cannot—’ ”. 2 noun Lack of knowledge or refusal to admit a particular problem, issue, etc. Their deafness to her cries. 3 noun partial or complete loss of hearing Thesaurus Synonyms 3 noun · partial or complete loss of... hearing loss Word family Derived forms tone-deafnessword-deafness Related forms deafdeafen Appears in Phrases (1) See all nerve deafness hearing loss caused by a problem with the auditory nerve Noun + noun Etymology From Middle English deefnesse; equivalent to deaf + -ness. Topics Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # deafness **Type:** Word **Level:** C1 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈdɛfnəs/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈdɛfnəs/ **Frequency rank:** 43860 ## Meanings 1. The condition of being deaf; the lack or loss of the ability to hear. 2. Lack of knowledge or refusal to admit a particular problem, issue, etc. 3. partial or complete loss of hearing ## Examples - Paul wet his lips with his tongue, read: “ ‘Think you of I the fact that a deaf person cannot hear. Then, what deafness may we not all possess? What senses do we lack that we cannot see and cannot hear another world all around us? What is there around us that we cannot—’ ”. - Their deafness to her cries. ## Derived Forms - tone-deafness - word-deafness ## Related Forms - deaf - deafen ## Etymology From Middle English deefnesse; equivalent to deaf + -ness. ## Topics - Abstract Ideas - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown