/ded"end"/ , adj.
1. terminating in a dead end: a dead-end street.
2. Also, dead-ended . having no possibility for or hope of progress, advancement, etc.: a low-level, dead-end job.
3. leading a life in the slums: growing up as a tough dead-end kid.
v.i.
4. to come to a dead end: The road dead-ends at the lake.
[ 1885-90 ]