DEAF
Dictionary entry overview: What does deaf mean?
• DEAF (noun)
The noun DEAF has 1 sense:
1. people who have severe hearing impairments
Familiarity information: DEAF used as a noun is very rare.
• DEAF (adjective)
The adjective DEAF has 2 senses:
1. lacking or deprive of the sense of hearing wholly or in part
2. (usually followed by 'to') unwilling or refusing to pay heed
Familiarity information: DEAF used as an adjective is rare.
• DEAF (verb)
The verb DEAF has 1 sense:
1. make or render deaf
Familiarity information: DEAF used as a verb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
• DEAF (noun)
Meaning:
People who have severe hearing impairments
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Context example:
many of the deaf use sign language
Hypernyms ("deaf" is a kind of...):
people ((plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively)
Meronyms (members of "deaf"):
deaf person (a person with a severe auditory impairment)
• DEAF (adjective)
Meaning:
Lacking or deprive of the sense of hearing wholly or in part
Similar:
deaf-and-dumb; deaf-mute (lacking the sense of hearing and the ability to speak)
deafened (caused to hear poorly or not at all)
hard-of-hearing; hearing-impaired (having a hearing loss)
deaf as a post; profoundly deaf; stone-deaf; unhearing (totally deaf; unable to hear anything)
tone-deaf (unable to appreciate music)
Antonym:
hearing (able to perceive sound)
Meaning:
(usually followed by 'to') unwilling or refusing to pay heed
Synonyms:
deaf; indifferent
Context example:
deaf to her warnings
Similar:
heedless; thoughtless; unheeding (marked by or paying little heed or attention)
• DEAF (verb)
Meaning:
Make or render deaf
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Synonyms:
deaf; deafen
Context example:
a deafening noise
Hypernyms (to "deaf" is one way to...):
desensitise; desensitize (cause not to be sensitive)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
