deaf Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun people who have severe hearing impairments
    • many of the deaf use sign language
  2. verb make or render deaf
    deafen.
    • a deafening noise
  3. adjective lacking or deprived of the sense of hearing wholly or in part
  4. adjective satellite (usually followed by `to') unwilling or refusing to pay heed
    indifferent.
    • deaf to her warnings

WordNet

Deaf adjective
Etymology
OE. def, deaf, deef, AS. deáf; akin to D. doof, G. taub, Icel. daufr, Dan. döv, Sw. döf, Goth. daubs, and prob. to E. dumb (the original sense being, dull as applied to one of the senses), and perh. to Gr. (for ) blind, smoke, vapor, folly, and to G. toben to rage. Cf. Dumb.
Definitions
  1. Wanting the sense of hearing, either wholly or in part; unable to perceive sounds; hard of hearing; as, a deaf man.
    Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf. Shak.
  2. Unwilling to hear or listen; determinedly inattentive; regardless; not to be persuaded as to facts, argument, or exhortation; -- with to; as, deaf to reason.
    O, that men's ears should be To counsel deaf, but not to flattery! Shak.
  3. Deprived of the power of hearing; deafened.
    Deaf with the noise, I took my hasty flight. Dryden.
  4. Obscurely heard; stifled; deadened. R.
    A deaf murmur through the squadron went. Dryden.
  5. Decayed; tasteless; dead; as, a deaf nut; deaf corn. Obs. or Prov. Eng. Halliwell.
    If the season be unkindly and intemperate, they [peppers] will catch a blast; and then the seeds will be deaf, void, light, and naught. Holland.
Deaf transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To deafen. Obs. Dryden.

Webster 1913