dud

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /dʌd/ UK /dʌd/ See IPA manual

Freq #17273

Meanings

1

noun
informal: a thing, person, or event that is defective, worthless, or unsuccessful

The expensive new gadget proved to be a dud after only one day.
2

adj
informal: defective, invalid, or unlikely to work or be accepted

The cashier rejected the dud cheque at once.
3

noun
a bomb, shell, firework, or other explosive device that fails to detonate

The disposal team removed the dud from the field.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · informal: a thing, person,... failure flop lemon

2 adj · informal: defective,... defective invalid worthless

3 noun · a bomb, shell, firework, or... misfireunexploded ordnance

Opposites

success winner

Word family

Derived forms duddy

Related forms defective failure misfire

Etymology

From Middle English dudde, 'coarse cloth, cloak, or ragged garment.' Duds later meant clothes, especially shabby ones, and dud developed from 'worthless article' to a failed explosive, unsuccessful person or event, and defective or invalid object.

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# dud

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** /dʌd/
**IPA (UK):** /dʌd/
**Frequency rank:** 17273

## Meanings
1. informal: a thing, person, or event that is defective, worthless, or unsuccessful
2. informal: defective, invalid, or unlikely to work or be accepted
3. a bomb, shell, firework, or other explosive device that fails to detonate

## Examples
- The expensive new gadget proved to be a dud after only one day.
- The cashier rejected the dud cheque at once.
- The disposal team removed the dud from the field.

## Synonyms
- failure
- flop
- lemon
- misfire

## Antonyms
- success
- winner

## Derived Forms
- duddy

## Related Forms
- defective
- failure
- misfire

## Etymology
From Middle English dudde, 'coarse cloth, cloak, or ragged garment.' Duds later meant clothes, especially shabby ones, and dud developed from 'worthless article' to a failed explosive, unsuccessful person or event, and defective or invalid object.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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