deaf

 
Pronunciation: /dɛf/

adjective

  • lacking the power of hearing or having impaired hearing: I’m a bit deaf so you’ll have to speak up deaf children
  • unwilling or unable to hear or pay attention to something: she is deaf to all advice

Phrases

(as) deaf as a post

having very bad hearing.

fall on deaf ears

(of a statement or request) be ignored: their pleas fell on deaf ears

turn a deaf ear

refuse to listen or respond to a statement or request: he turned a deaf ear to all appeals

Derivatives

deafness

noun

Origin:

Old English dēaf, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch doof and German taub, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek tuphlos 'blind'