Main Entry: ¹dull

Pronunciation: \ˈdəl\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English dul; akin to Old English dol foolish, Old Irish dall blind

Date: 13th century

1 : mentally slow : stupid
2 a : slow in perception or sensibility : insensible <somewhat dull of hearing> b : lacking zest or vivacity : listless <a dull performance>
3 : slow in action : sluggish
4 a : lacking in force, intensity, or sharpness <a dull ache> b : not resonant or ringing <a dull booming sound>
5 : lacking sharpness of edge or point <a dull knife>
6 : lacking brilliance or luster <a dull finish>
7 of a color : low in saturation and low in lightness
8 : cloudy <dull weather>
9 : tedious, uninteresting <dull lectures>

— dull·ness also dul·ness \ˈdəl-nəs\ noun

— dul·ly \ˈdə(l)-lē\ adverb

synonyms dull, blunt, obtuse mean not sharp, keen, or acute. dull suggests a lack or loss of keenness, zest, or pungency <a dull pain> <a dull mind>. blunt suggests an inherent lack of sharpness or quickness of feeling or perception <a person of blunt sensibility>. obtuse implies such bluntness as makes one insensitive in perception or imagination <too obtuse to take the hint>.

synonyms see in addition stupid