/ def; NAmE / adjective ( deaf·er , deaf·est )
1.
unable to hear anything or unable to hear very well :
to become / go deaf
She was born deaf.
—see also stone deaf , tone-deaf
2.
the deaf noun [ pl. ] people who cannot hear :
television subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
3.
[ not before noun ] deaf to sth not willing to listen or pay attention to sth :
He was deaf to my requests for help.
► deaf·ness noun [ U ]
•
IDIOMS
- (as) deaf as a post
- fall on deaf ears
- turn a deaf ear (to sb/sth)
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English dēaf , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch doof and German taub , from an Indo-European root shared by Greek tuphlos blind.