doldrums C2 Topic:Emotions & Feelings US /ˈdɑldɹəmz/ UK /ˈdɒldɹəmz/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun plural, usually the doldrums: a state of low spirits, boredom, or lack of energy A visit from her oldest friend lifted her out of the doldrums. 2 noun plural, usually the doldrums: a period of little activity, growth, or progress New orders helped the factory emerge from the economic doldrums. 3 noun nautical, plural: conditions in which calm or unreliable winds prevent a sailing ship from making progress The crew spent three days in the doldrums waiting for a usable breeze. 4 noun nautical, plural: the region near the equator where winds are often light or variable and sudden squalls can occur The yacht crossed the doldrums before reaching the steadier trade winds. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · plural, usually the... low spiritslistlessnessdespondency 2 noun · plural, usually the... stagnationinactivityslump 3 noun · nautical, plural:... calms 4 noun · nautical, plural: the... equatorial calmsintertropical convergence zone Word family Related forms dullstagnationcalmequatorwind Etymology From obsolete doldrum (a sluggish or dull person) with plural -s. Doldrum may be connected with dull and modeled on tantrum; the derivation is uncertain. Topics Emotions & Feelings External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # doldrums **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈdɑldɹəmz/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈdɒldɹəmz/ ## Meanings 1. plural, usually the doldrums: a state of low spirits, boredom, or lack of energy 2. plural, usually the doldrums: a period of little activity, growth, or progress 3. nautical, plural: conditions in which calm or unreliable winds prevent a sailing ship from making progress 4. nautical, plural: the region near the equator where winds are often light or variable and sudden squalls can occur ## Examples - A visit from her oldest friend lifted her out of the doldrums. - New orders helped the factory emerge from the economic doldrums. - The crew spent three days in the doldrums waiting for a usable breeze. - The yacht crossed the doldrums before reaching the steadier trade winds. ## Synonyms - low spirits - listlessness - despondency - stagnation - inactivity - slump - calms - equatorial calms - intertropical convergence zone ## Related Forms - dull - stagnation - calm - equator - wind ## Etymology From obsolete doldrum (a sluggish or dull person) with plural -s. Doldrum may be connected with dull and modeled on tantrum; the derivation is uncertain. ## Topics - Emotions & Feelings markdown