dumb Meaning, Definition & Usage

adjective satellite slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity
dim; slow; dense; obtuse; dull.
- so dense he never understands anything I say to him
- never met anyone quite so dim
- although dull at classical learning, at mathematics he was uncommonly quick"- Thackeray
- dumb officials make some really dumb decisions
- he was either normally stupid or being deliberately obtuse
- worked with the slow students
adjective satellite temporarily incapable of speaking
speechless.
- struck dumb
- speechless with shock
adjective satellite lacking the power of human speech
- dumb animals
adjective satellite unable to speak because of hereditary deafness
silent; mute.

AS. dumb; akin to D. dom stupid, dumb, Sw. dumb, Goth. dumbs; cf. Gr. blind. See Deaf, and cf. Dummy.

Destitute of the power of speech; unable; to utter articulate sounds; as, the dumb brutes.
To unloose the very tongues even of dumb creatures. Hooker.
Not willing to speak; mute; silent; not speaking; not accompanied by words; as, dumb show.
This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him. Shak.

To pierce into the dumb past. J. C. Shairp.
Lacking brightness or clearness, as a color. R.
Her stern was painted of a dumb white or dun color. De Foe.
Syn. -- Silent; speechless; noiseless. See Mute.