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 the sense of hearing; unable to hear.
lacking or deprived of the sense of hearing wholly or in part

Adjective Satellite

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

Adj

Unable (or partially able) to hear.
Unwilling to listen or be persuaded; determinedly inattentive.
Of or relating to the community of deaf people.
Obscurely heard; stifled; deadened.
Decayed; tasteless; useless.

Examples

a deaf nut; deaf corn
He was DEAF to his opponent’s groans as he blocked the last triple word square.
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 def, 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: valid Words With Friends Word