adj. & v.
--adj.
1. slow to understand; stupid.
2 tedious; boring.
3 (of the weather) overcast; gloomy.
4 a (esp. of a knife edge etc.) blunt. b (of colour, light, sound, or taste) not bright, vivid, or keen.
5 (of a pain etc.) usu. prolonged and indistinct; not acute (a dull ache).
6 a (of a person, an animal, trade, etc.) sluggish, slow-moving, or stagnant. b (of a person) listless; depressed (he's a dull fellow since the accident).
7 (of the ears, eyes, etc.) without keen perception.
--v.tr. & intr. make or become dull.
Phrases and idioms:
dull the edge of make less sensitive, interesting, effective, amusing, etc.; blunt.
Derivatives:
dullish adj. dullness n. (also dulness). dully adv.
Etymology: ME f. MLG, MDu. dul, corresp. to OE dol stupid