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dumb

adj. · v. · adv.
US //ˈdəm// UK //dˈʌm// dumb
  1. 1 stupid or foolish (adj.)
    A2 Elementary Informal

    stupid or silly.

    lacking intelligence or common sense. Highly informal and often derogatory.

    Example

    That was a dumb mistake, and I should have checked the map first.

    Example

    It was a remarkably dumb decision to ignore the safety warnings, especially given the high stakes of the project.
  2. 2 not smart (technology) (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

    describes a machine or tool that does not have its own computer brain or 'smart' features.

    lacking independent processing power or autonomous 'intelligent' capabilities; often contrasted with 'smart' devices.

    Example

    I prefer using a dumb phone because it has fewer distractions than a smartphone.

    Example

    The system relies on dumb terminals that simply display data processed by a central mainframe server.
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  1. 3 unable to speak (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Archaic

    unable to speak; this is an old-fashioned word that some people now find offensive.

    physically unable to speak. This sense is increasingly avoided in modern clinical contexts in favour of 'mute'.

    Example

    In the old story, the prince was struck dumb by a magic spell.

    Example

    The historical documents refer to the patient as 'deaf and dumb', a terminology that has since been replaced by more sensitive descriptors.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is mostly found in literature or old films. In modern conversation, using 'dumb' to mean 'unable to speak' can be seen as insensitive or offensive.
  2. 4 to make simpler (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to make something easier to understand, often in a way that makes it less intelligent.

    to simplify something to the point of reducing its intellectual level. Usually used with 'down'.

    Example

    The news often dumbs down complex stories to make them more popular.

    Example

    Critics argued that the new curriculum would dumb down the subject matter and fail to challenge the more advanced students.

    Usage

    Almost always used as the phrasal verb 'dumb down'.
  3. 5 extremely (adv.)
    C1 Advanced Slang American English

    used to mean 'very' or 'extremely' to emphasize an adjective.

    used as an intensifier meaning 'extremely' or 'very'.

    Example

    That new video game is dumb hard to finish.

    Example

    The exam was dumb easy, so I finished it with twenty minutes to spare.
Etymology 1

From Middle English dumb (“silent, speechless, mute, ineffectual”), from Old English dumb (“silent, speechless, mute, unable to speak”), from Proto-West Germanic dumb, from Proto-Germanic dumbaz (“dull, dumb”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- (“to whisk, smoke, darken, obscure”). The senses of stupid, unintellectual, and pointless, which are found regularly since the 19th century only, probably developed under the influence of German dumm and Dutch dom. Just like the English word, these originally meant "lacking the power of speech", but they developed the mentioned senses early on. Cognates Cognate with Scots dumb (“dumb, silent”), North Frisian dom, domme (“dumb, stupid”), West Frisian dom (“dumb, stupid”), Dutch dom (“dumb, stupid”), German dumm (“dumb, stupid”), Danish dum (“stupid”), Swedish dum (“stupid”), Icelandic dumbur (“dumb, mute”). See also deaf.

Etymology 2

From Middle English dumben, from Old English dumbian (found in the compound ādumbian (“to become mute or dumb; keep silence; hold one’s peace”)), from Proto-Germanic dumbijaną, dumbōną (“to be silent, become dumb”), from Proto-Indo-European dʰewbʰ- (“to whisk, smoke, darken, obscure”). Cognate with German verdummen (“to become dumb”).

Etymology 3

A minced oath of damn.

Idioms5 entries

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