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English Dictionary

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 dull dull /ˈdʌl/

adjective

  1. () Emitting or reflecting very little light  ( dull )
    emitting or reflecting very little light
     A dull glow
    a dull glow
     Dull silver badly in need of a polish
    dull silver badly in need of a polish
     A dull sky
    a dull sky
  2. () Lacking in liveliness or animation  ( hebetudinous , dull )
    lacking in liveliness or animation
     He was so dull at parties
    he was so dull at parties
     A dull political campaign
    a dull political campaign
     A large dull impassive man
    a large dull impassive man
     Dull days with nothing to do
    dull days with nothing to do
     How dull and dreary the world is
    how dull and dreary the world is
     Fell back into one of her dull moods
    fell back into one of her dull moods
  3. () (of color) very low in saturation; highly diluted  ( dull )
    (of color) very low in saturation; highly diluted
     Dull greens and blues
    dull greens and blues
  4. () So lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness  ( deadening , ho-hum [Informal] , slow , boring , irksome , tiresome , wearisome , draggy [Informal] , mind-numbing , dull , tedious )
    so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
     A boring evening with uninteresting people
    a boring evening with uninteresting people
     The deadening effect of some routine tasks
    the deadening effect of some routine tasks
     A dull play
    a dull play
     His competent but dull performance
    his competent but dull performance
     A ho-hum speaker who couldn't capture their attention
    a ho-hum speaker who couldn't capture their attention
     What an irksome task the writing of long letters is
    what an irksome task the writing of long letters is
     Tedious days on the train
    tedious days on the train
     The tiresome chirping of a cricket
    the tiresome chirping of a cricket
     Other people's dreams are dreadfully wearisome
    other people's dreams are dreadfully wearisome
  5. () Being or made softer or less loud or clear  ( muted , softened , dull , muffled )
    being or made softer or less loud or clear
     The dull boom of distant breaking waves
    the dull boom of distant breaking waves
     Muffled drums
    muffled drums
     The muffled noises of the street
    the muffled noises of the street
     Muted trumpets
    muted trumpets
  6. () (of business) not active or brisk  ( slow , sluggish , dull )
    (of business) not active or brisk
     Business is dull (or slow)
    business is dull (or slow)
     A sluggish market
    a sluggish market
  7. () Slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity  ( dense , dim , obtuse , dull , dumb , slow )
    slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity
     So dense he never understands anything I say to him
    so dense he never understands anything I say to him
     Never met anyone quite so dim
    never met anyone quite so dim
     Although dull at classical learning, at mathematics he was uncommonly quick
    although dull at classical learning, at mathematics he was uncommonly quick
     Dumb officials make some really dumb decisions
    dumb officials make some really dumb decisions
     He was either normally stupid or being deliberately obtuse
    he was either normally stupid or being deliberately obtuse
     Worked with the slow students
    worked with the slow students
  8. () Not keenly felt  ( dull )
    not keenly felt
     A dull throbbing
    a dull throbbing
     Dull pain
    dull pain
  9. Darkened with overcast  ( dull , leaden )
    darkened with overcast
     A dark day
    a dark day
     A dull sky
    a dull sky
     The sky was leaden and thick
    the sky was leaden and thick
  10. Not having a sharp edge or point  ( dull )
    not having a sharp edge or point
     The knife was too dull to be of any use
    the knife was too dull to be of any use
  11. Not clear and resonant; sounding as if striking with or against something relatively soft  ( dull , thudding )
    not clear and resonant; sounding as if striking with or against something relatively soft
     The dull thud
    the dull thud
     Thudding bullets
    thudding bullets
  12. Blunted in responsiveness or sensibility  ( dull )
    blunted in responsiveness or sensibility
     A dull gaze
    a dull gaze
     So exhausted she was dull to what went on about her
    so exhausted she was dull to what went on about her

verb

  1. () Become dull or lusterless in appearance; lose shine or brightness  ( dull )
    become dull or lusterless in appearance; lose shine or brightness
     The varnished table top dulled with time
    the varnished table top dulled with time
  2. () Make dull in appearance  ( dull )
    make dull in appearance
     Age had dulled the surface
    Age had dulled the surface
  3. Make less lively or vigorous  ( dull )
    make less lively or vigorous
     Middle age dulled her appetite for travel
    Middle age dulled her appetite for travel
  4. Become less interesting or attractive  ( dull , pall )
    become less interesting or attractive
  5. Make dull or blunt  ( blunt , dull )
    make dull or blunt
     Too much cutting dulls the knife's edge
    Too much cutting dulls the knife's edge
  6. Make numb or insensitive  ( benumb , blunt , dull , numb )
    make numb or insensitive
     The shock numbed her senses
    The shock numbed her senses
  7. Deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping  ( damp , dampen , dull , muffle , mute , tone down )
    deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping