dumb

dumb¹ S3 [dʌm] adj

[: Old English;]

1.) informal stupid

▪ What a dumb question.

▪ a bunch of dumb kids

▪ 'What is it?' I asked, playing dumb (=pretending to be stupid) .

▪ She's no dumb blonde (=a pretty woman with blonde hair who seems stupid) .

2.) unable to speak, because you are angry, surprised, shocked etc

▪ He stared at the burnt-out car in dumb disbelief.

▪ She was struck dumb with terror.

3.) old-fashioned someone who is dumb is not able to speak at all. Many people think that this use is offensive

→↑mute

→deaf and dumb at ↑deaf

4.) dumb luck informal

something good that happens in an unexpected way, especially when it is not deserved

▪ It was just dumb luck that we found the place at all.

5.) dumb animals/creatures

used to talk about animals when you want to emphasize that humans often treat them badly and they cannot protect themselves

>dumbly adv

▪ For a few seconds she gazed dumbly at him.

>dumbness n [U]

dumb ²

dumb² v

dumb down [dumb sth<=>down]

to present news or information in a simple and attractive way without many details so that everyone can understand it - used to show disapproval

▪ Have history textbooks been dumbed down over the past decade?

>dumbing down n [U]