deaf

Plural: deafs

Noun

people who have severe hearing impairments
- "many of the deaf use sign language"
A deaf person.

Verb

make or render deaf
- "a deafening noise"
To deafen.

Adjective

lacking or deprived of the sense of hearing wholly or in part
DEAFER, DEAFEST lacking the sense of hearing

Adjective Satellite

(usually followed by `to') unwilling or refusing to pay heed
- "deaf to her warnings"

Adj

Unable to hear, or only partially able to hear.
Unwilling to listen or be persuaded; determinedly inattentive; regardless.
Of or relating to the community of deaf people.
Obscurely heard; stifled; deadened.
Decayed; tasteless; dead.

Examples

"a deaf nut; deaf corn"
"It's important for TV shows to provide closed captioning for the deaf."
"My brother has been deaf since sustaining injuries in the war."
"Those people are deaf to reason."

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English deef, from Old English dēaf, from Proto-West Germanic *daub, from Proto-Germanic *daubaz, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- (“to whisk, smoke, darken, obscure”). Cognate with Ancient Greek τυφλός (tuphlós, “blind”). See also dumb. Doublet of daff, dof, and dowf.

Synonyms

deafen, indifferent, hard of hearing, hearing-impaired

Antonyms

hearing

Scrabble Score: 8

deaf: valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
deaf: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
deaf: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 8

deaf is a valid Words With Friends word