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deaf

deaf [ def ]


adjective  (comparative deaf·er, superlative deaf·est)
Definition:
 
1. hard of hearing: completely or partially unable to hear in one or both ears

2. unresponsive or indifferent: unwilling to respond to something as if unable to hear it
They remained deaf to all our entreaties.



plural noun 
Definition:
 
people who cannot hear: people who are hard of hearing

[ Old English dēaf< Indo-European]

deaf·ness noun

Word Usage

The adjective and noun Deaf, when capitalized, refer to the community of hearing-impaired people who use American Sign Language to communicate, and who use Deaf to refer to themselves. Avoid using deaf in lowercase in such contexts because it is taken to be offensive. A preferred substitute is hearing-impaired.

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