I. ˈdəl 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
Synonym: see in addition stupid .
II. verb
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
: to make dull
dull a knife's edge
intransitive verb
: to become dull