dumbbell

American  

[duhm-bel] / ˈdʌmˌbɛl /

noun

1. a gymnastic apparatus consisting of two wooden or metal balls connected by a short bar serving as a handle, used as a weight for exercising.

2. a stupid person.

   Synonyms:

   dimwit, blockhead, fool, ignoramus, dunce

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dumbbell British  

/ ˈdʌmˌbɛl /

noun

1. gymnastics weightlifting an exercising weight consisting of a single bar with a heavy ball or disc at either end

2. a small wooden object shaped like this used in dog training for the dog to retrieve

3. slang a fool

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Etymology

Origin of dumbbell

First recorded in 1705–15; dumb + bell ¹

Example Sentences

The Dominicans celebrated home runs by posing with a dumbbell adorned with plantains.

From The Wall Street Journal

Today, there are alarms that turn off when would-be snoozers shoot a fake gun at a target or curl a small dumbbell.

From The Wall Street Journal

Their forms match the aerodynamic shapes typical of tektites, including spheres, ellipsoids, droplets, disks, dumbbells, and twisted shapes.

From Science Daily

It could involve kettle bells, dumbbells, walking lunges, pull ups, squatting.

From The Wall Street Journal

I got a more alarming “bleep” during dumbbell thrusters: “Go deeper so your thighs are closer to parallel.”

From The Wall Street Journal