dummy

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈdʌmi/ See IPA manual

Freq #5042

Meanings

1

adj
having the appearance of being real but lacking capacity to function

A dummy corporation.
2

verb
make a dummy of

Dummy up the books that are to be published.
3

noun
A silent person; a person who does not talk.

The man's name […] was engraved in the centre, and beneath this, written in ink with the same elaborate precision as the engraving, there was a brief message. I am a deaf-mute, but I read the lips and understand what is said to me. Please do not shout. […] Singer looked very carefully at his lips when he spoke—he had noticed that before. But a dummy!
4

noun
A stupid person.

Don't be such a dummy!

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · make a dummy of dummy up

3 noun · a silent person; a person... dumby

4 noun · a stupid person. dumbydumdum

Word family

Derived forms dumminessdummy-proofdummymander

Related forms dud fake feint

Etymology

From dumb + -y. Pacifier sense from dummy teat where dummy is in the sense of a nonfunctional replica.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# dummy

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈdʌmi/
**Frequency rank:** 5042

## Meanings
1. having the appearance of being real but lacking capacity to function
2. make a dummy of
3. A silent person; a person who does not talk.
4. A stupid person.

## Examples
- A dummy corporation.
- Dummy up the books that are to be published.
- The man's name […] was engraved in the centre, and beneath this, written in ink with the same elaborate precision as the engraving, there was a brief message. I am a deaf-mute, but I read the lips and understand what is said to me. Please do not shout. […] Singer looked very carefully at his lips when he spoke—he had noticed that before. But a dummy!
- Don't be such a dummy!

## Derived Forms
- dumminess
- dummy-proof
- dummymander

## Related Forms
- dud
- fake
- feint

## Etymology
From dumb + -y. Pacifier sense from dummy teat where dummy is in the sense of a nonfunctional replica.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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