Today, sign languages are the means of communication and interaction in Deaf communities around the world and have been shown to contain all the linguistic complexities and potentials of spoken languages (Stokoe, 1960/2005).
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deaf — W3 [def] adj [: Old English;] 1.) physically unable to hear anything or unable to hear well →↑hearing impaired ▪ communication between deaf and hearing people ▪ I think Mum s going a bit deaf . ▪ She s deaf and dumb (=unable to hear or speak) and … Dictionary of contemporary English
Deaf — (d[e^]f or d[=e]f; 277), a. [OE. def, deaf, deef, AS. de[ a]f; akin to D. doof, G. taub, Icel. daufr, Dan. d[ o]v, Sw. d[ o]f, Goth. daubs, and prob. to E. dumb (the original sense being, dull as applied to one of the senses), and perh. to Gr.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
deaf — [ def ] adjective ** not able to hear anything, or not able to hear very well. Many deaf people wear a hearing aid to help them hear. Deaf people often use their hands to communicate in sign language, and many can lip read what other people are… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
deaf — O.E. deaf deaf, also empty, barren, specialized from P.Gmc. *daubaz (Cf. O.S. dof, O.N. daufr, O.Fris. daf, Du. doof deaf, Ger. taub, Goth. daufs deaf, insensate ), from PIE dheubh , which was used to form words meaning confusion, stupefaction,… … Etymology dictionary
deaf — deaf; deaf·en; deaf·en·ing·ly; deaf·ish; deaf·ly; deaf·ness; … English syllables
deaf — ► ADJECTIVE 1) without the faculty of hearing or having impaired hearing. 2) (deaf to) unwilling to listen or respond to. ● fall on deaf ears Cf. ↑fall on deaf ears ● turn a deaf ear Cf. ↑tu … English terms dictionary
deaf — [adj1] without hearing deafened, earless, hard of hearing, stone deaf*, unable to hear; concept 591 Ant. hearing deaf [adj2] unwilling bullheaded*, headstrong, indifferent, intractable, mulish*, oblivious, obstinate, pertinacious, perverse,… … New thesaurus
deaf — [def] adj. [ME def < OE deaf, akin to Ger taub, Goth * daufs < IE * dheubh , misty, obscured < base * dheu : see DULL] 1. totally or partially unable to hear 2. unwilling to hear or listen; giving no heed [deaf to her pleas] deafly adv.… … English World dictionary
Deaf — (?; 277), v. t. To deafen. [Obs.] Dryden. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
deaf|en — «DEHF uhn», transitive verb. 1. to make deaf: »A hard blow on the ear deafened him for life. 2. to stun with noise: »A sudden explosion deafened us for a moment. 3. to drown out by a louder sound. 4. to make soundproof; deaden … Useful english dictionary
deaf — index heedless, incognizant, insensible, insusceptible (uncaring) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
