deaf (d f)adj. deaf·er, deaf·est 1. Partially or completely lacking in the sense of hearing. 2. Deaf Of or relating to the Deaf or their culture. 3. Unwilling or refusing to listen; heedless: was deaf to our objections. n. (used with a pl. verb) 1. Deaf people considered as a group. Used with the. 2. Deaf The community of deaf people who use American Sign Language as a primary means of communication. Used with the. [Middle English def, deef, from Old English d  af.]deaf  ly adv.deaf ness n.Usage Note: The rise of the Deaf Pride movement in the 1980s has introduced a distinction between deaf and Deaf, with the capitalized form used specifically in referring to deaf persons belonging to the community  also known as Deaf culturethat has formed around the use of American Sign Language as the preferred means of communication. The issue of capitalization is different with deaf than it is for a term such as black. In the case of black, the decision whether or not to capitalize is essentially a matter of personal or political preference, while with deaf the capitalized and uncapitalized forms differ in meaning as well as style. Only persons who are self-identified as belonging to Deaf culture are appropriately referred to as Deaf. |
deafness (dfn s) The lack or severe impairment of the ability to hear. Deafness is usually genetic or congenital as a result of prenatal viral infection, birth trauma, or other causes. Acquired deafness is caused mostly by drug toxicity, trauma, and certain diseases. Cochlear implants are used to treat some forms of deafness. |
Deafness
a type of ear trumpet used by the deaf.
an acronym for the American Sign Language for the Deaf, a system of communication through gestures and hand signals.
loss or absence of the power of hearing.
a form of deafness in which the sufferer hears only his own voice, and that very loudly. See also medical specialties.
the technique of communicating through signs made with the fingers, as in the manual alphabet for the deaf.
the condition of lacking both hearing and speech. Also called surdomutism. — deafmute, n.
the teaching of communication through the use of hand signals to the deaf. — manualist, n.
1. the principles of the oral method of training the deaf, as lip reading.
2. the support or practice of these principles. Cf. manualism. — oralist, n.
2. the support or practice of these principles. Cf. manualism. — oralist, n.
a hearing device for the deaf that is placed against the upper teeth so it can transmit vibrations to the auditory nerve through the bones of the skull.
defective sense of hearing. Also paracousia.
a procedure for producing visible records of sound waves or speech sounds, especially to assist the deaf in using the telephone. Also called visible speech. — phonautographic, adj.
Pathology. the degree of deafness that is sufficient to block the acquisition of speech by normal means.
deafmutism. — surdomute, n.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  deafness - partial or complete loss of hearinghearing disorder, hearing impairment - impairment of the sense of hearing tin ear, tone deafness - an inability to distinguish differences in pitch deaf-muteness, deaf-mutism - congenital deafness that results in inability to speak |
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