DEAF • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Deaf

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/dɛf/ Listen

adjective

Deaf adj.

Wanting the sense of hearing, either wholly or in part; unable to perceive sounds; hard of hearing; as, a deaf man. "Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf."

Unwilling to hear or listen; determinedly inattentive; regardless; not to be persuaded as to facts, argument, or exhortation; with to; as, deaf to reason. "O, that men's ears should be To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!"

Deprived of the power of hearing; deafened. "Deaf with the noise, I took my hasty flight."

Obscurely heard; stifled; deadened. (R.) "A deaf murmur through the squadron went."

Decayed; tasteless; dead; as, a deaf nut; deaf corn. (Obs. or Prov. Eng.) "If the season be unkindly and intemperate, they (peppers) will catch a blast; and then the seeds will be deaf, void, light, and naught."

verb

Deaf v. t. To deafen. (Obs.)

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Etymology of 'Deaf'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Deaf" Quotes from Famous Books

... words not meant for her ear had shamed Miss Bat into action. Coming home from prayer-meeting one dark night, she trotted along behind two old ladies who were gossiping in loud voices, as one was rather deaf, and Miss Bat was both pleased and troubled to ...

— Jack and Jill • Louisa May Alcott

... in vain tried to dissuade him from his rash project, his mind was made up and he turned a deaf ear to their words. ...

— The Boy Chums in the Forest - or Hunting for Plume Birds in the Florida Everglades • Wilmer M. Ely

... be obtained at the cost of as little inconvenience to you as we can contrive. For an instance—just what strikes me—they all say here I speak very loud—(a trick caught from having often to talk with a deaf relative of mine). And did I ...

— The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, Vol. 1 (of 2) 1845-1846 • Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett

... remains hearing, by which I mean only the human voice and speech; they contain the names of all things whatsoever. It is possible to live happily without the knowledge of these {54} words, as is seen in those who are born deaf, that is to say, the dumb, who ...

— Thoughts on Art and Life • Leonardo da Vinci

... days, they had wandered through a deserted part of the Winkie Country, subsisting largely on berries, sleeping under trees, and looking in vain for a road to lead them back to the Emerald City. On the second day, they had encountered an ancient woodsman, too old and deaf to give them any information. He did, however, invite them into his hut and give them a good dinner and a dozen sandwiches ...

— The Royal Book of Oz • L. Frank Baum

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