/ dʌl; NAmE / adjective , verb
■ adjective
( dull·er , dull·est )
BORING
1.
not interesting or exciting
SYN dreary :
Life in a small town could be deadly dull.
The first half of the game was pretty dull.
There's never a dull moment when John's around.
➡ note at boring
LIGHT / COLOURS
2.
not bright or shiny :
a dull grey colour
dull, lifeless hair
Her eyes were dull.
SOUNDS
3.
not clear or loud :
The gates shut behind him with a dull thud.
WEATHER
4.
not bright, with a lot of clouds
SYN overcast :
It was a dull, grey day.
PAIN
5.
not very severe, but continuous :
a dull ache / pain
PERSON
6.
slow in understanding
SYN stupid :
a dull pupil
TRADE
7.
( especially NAmE ) not busy; slow :
Don't sell into a dull market.
► dull·ness noun [ U ]
► dully / ˈdʌlli; NAmE / adverb :
'I suppose so,' she said dully.
His leg ached dully.
•
IDIOMS
- (as) dull as ditchwater
—more at work noun
■ verb
PAIN
1.
( of pain or an emotion ) to become or be made weaker or less severe :
[ vn ]
The tablets they gave him dulled the pain for a while.
[also v ]
PERSON
2.
[ vn ] to make a person slower or less lively :
He felt dulled and stupid with sleep.
COLOURS, SOUNDS
3.
to become or to make sth less bright, clean or sharp :
[ v ]
His eyes dulled and he slumped to the ground.
[ vn ]
The endless rain seemed to dull all sound.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English dol stupid , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dol crazy and German toll mad, fantastic, wonderful.