deafen

/'defn/

Thân thiện

The loud music could deafen the concertgoers.

Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To cause permanent hearing loss: To make someone unable to hear, typically by causing damage to their ears.
   • To overwhelm with sound: To make someone temporarily unable to hear or to be heard over due to an extremely loud noise.
   • To soundproof: To make a room or structure impervious to sound.

Usage and Examples

• To cause hearing loss or impairment:

  • Prolonged exposure to the machinery could deafen the workers.
  • The explosion was powerful enough to deafen anyone standing nearby.

• To overwhelm with a very loud noise (often used in passive constructions or as an adjective 'deafening'):

  • The roar of the crowd deafened the players as they entered the stadium.
  • We were deafened by the sound of the jet taking off.

• To make soundproof (a more technical usage):

  • The studio was deafened with special acoustic panels to prevent echo.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Deafening" as an adjective: Describing a noise so loud it makes hearing anything else impossible.
  • The deafening silence in the room was unnerving. (This is an oxymoron, using "deafening" metaphorically to describe an intense, oppressive quiet.)
• Figurative use: To describe an action that metaphorically prevents someone from hearing or paying attention.
  • His constant complaints deafened her to any reasonable argument.

Variants and Related Words

• Deafening (adj.): Extremely loud.
  • The concert ended with deafening applause.
• Deaf (adj.): Unable to hear.
  • He has been deaf since birth.

Synonyms

• Drown out: To be so loud that other sounds cannot be heard.
• Overwhelm (with sound): To overpower the senses with noise.
• Soundproof: To insulate against sound.

Phrasal Verbs / Common Constructions

• Deafen to: (Figurative) To make someone unwilling or unable to hear or consider something.
  • He had deafened himself to all criticism.

Related Idioms

• Deafening roar / noise / applause: A standard collocation emphasizing extreme volume.
  • A deafening roar erupted from the engine.
• Turn a deaf ear: (Idiom) To refuse to listen. Note: This idiom uses "deaf," not the verb "deafen," but is semantically related.
  • He turned a deaf ear to their pleas for help.

Học thuật

Verb

1. make soundproof
   • deafen a room
2. make or render deaf
   • a deafening noise
3. be unbearably loud
   • a deafening noise

Từ đồng nghĩa

• deaf