HOW TO PRONOUNCE
deaf
/diːf/
Press play to hear how to pronounce deaf.
American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
Watch on YouTube ↗
Watch on YouTube ↗
What does deaf mean?
adjective
- Unable (or partially able) to hear.
- Unwilling to listen or be persuaded; determinedly inattentive.
- Of or relating to the community of deaf people.
More meanings (5)
adjective
- Of or relating to the culture surrounding deaf users of sign languages.
- (obsolete) Obscurely heard; stifled; deadened.
- (obsolete) Decayed; tasteless; useless.
noun
- (rare) A deaf person.
verb
- (obsolete) To deafen.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/diːf/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
At this period the old man was deaf with one ear, blind with one eye, nearly toothless, and labouring under multiplied infirmities.
But when he charged me, in return, with many messages of affection and regret for those deaf ears, he moved me more.
More book examples (3)
If these could be im-proved, he thought, then the deaf might be taught to speak by SIGHT--by learning an alphabet of vibrations.
The sleeping mother often is deaf to considerable noise, but wakes up immediately when her child draws a deeper breath than usual.
I thought I had become deaf, for the noises of movement I had been accustomed to hear from the pit had ceased absolutely.