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deaf

[ def ]
/ dɛf /

adjective, deaf·er, deaf·est.

partially or wholly lacking or deprived of the sense of hearing; unable to hear.
refusing to listen, heed, or be persuaded; unreasonable or unyielding: deaf to all advice.
(initial capital letter) of or relating to the Deaf or their cultural community: Deaf customs and values.

noun (used with a plural verb)

deaf persons collectively (usually preceded by the): social services for the deaf.
(initial capital letter) deaf persons who identify themselves as members of a community composed of deaf persons and others who share in their culture (usually preceded by the).

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!

Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!
Question 1 of 10
Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.
Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.
It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.
It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of deaf

before 900; Middle English deef, Old English dēaf; cognate with Middle Low German dōf, Dutch doof, Old High German toub

pronunciation note for deaf

Deaf is usually pronounced [def] /dɛf/, with the vowel of left. In uneducated speech the dialectal pronunciation [deef] /dif/, to rhyme with leaf, is still heard occasionally, but it is increasingly rare.

usage note for deaf

See dumb.

OTHER WORDS FROM deaf

Words nearby deaf

deadrise, deadweight tonnage, deadwood, deadwork, deaerate, deaf, deaf aid, deaf as a post, deaf without speech, deaf-and-dumb, deaf-blind
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to deafer

strong-willed, oblivious, indifferent, headstrong, obstinate, bullheaded, intractable, mulish, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, stubborn, unaware, unconcerned, unmoved, self-willed

Example sentences from the Web for deafer

British Dictionary definitions for deafer

deaf
/ (dɛf) /

adjective

  1. partially or totally unable to hear
  2. (as collective noun; preceded by the)the deaf See also tone-deaf
refusing to heeddeaf to the cries of the hungry

Derived forms of deaf

deafly, adverbdeafness, noun

Word Origin for deaf

Old English dēaf; related to Old Norse daufr

undefined deaf

See elderly
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for deafer

deaf
[ dĕf ]

adj.

Partially or completely lacking in the sense of hearing.
Deaf Of or relating to the Deaf or their culture.

n.

Deaf people considered as a group.
Deaf The community of deaf people who use American Sign Language as a primary means of communication.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Idioms and Phrases with deafer

deaf
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.