GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 3 definitions

  1.       
    
    Deaden , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deadened ; p. pr. & vb. n. Deadening.] [From Dead; cf. AS. ddan to kill, put to death. See Dead, a.]
    1. To make as dead; to impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation; to lessen the force or acuteness of; to blunt; as, to deaden the natural powers or feelings; to deaden a sound.
      1913 Webster

      As harper lays his open palm
      Upon his harp, to deaden its vibrations.
      Longfellow.

      1913 Webster

    2. To lessen the velocity or momentum of; to retard; as, to deaden a ship's headway.
      1913 Webster
    3. To make vapid or spiritless; as, to deaden wine.
      1913 Webster
    4. To deprive of gloss or brilliancy; to obscure; as, to deaden gilding by a coat of size.
      1913 Webster
    5. To render impervious to sound, as a wall or floor; to deafen.
      Webster 1913 Suppl.
  2.       
    
    deadening adj. [p. pr. of verb deaden{3}.] Rendering less lively, intense, or vigorous; as, the deadening effect of some routine tasks.
    WordNet 1.5
    1. So lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness; as, the deadening effect of some routine tasks.
      Syn. -- boring, dreary, ho-hum, irksome, tedious, tiresome, wearisome.
      WordNet 1.5
  3.       
    
    deadening n. The act of making something futile and useless (as by routine).
    Syn. -- stultification, impairment.
    WordNet 1.5