DEAFEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does deafen mean? 

• DEAFEN (verb)
  The verb DEAFEN has 3 senses:

1. be unbearably loud

2. make or render deaf

3. make soundproof

  Familiarity information: DEAFEN used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEAFEN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they deafen    ... he / she / it deafens   
Past simple: deafened   
Past participle: deafened   
-ing form: deafening   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Be unbearably loud

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

a deafening noise

"Deafen" entails doing...:

make noise; noise; resound (emit a noise)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make or render deaf

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

deaf; deafen

Context example:

a deafening noise

Hypernyms (to "deafen" is one way to...):

desensitise; desensitize (cause not to be sensitive)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make soundproof

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

deafen a room

Hypernyms (to "deafen" is one way to...):

break; damp; dampen; soften; weaken (lessen in force or effect)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

A deafening roar, a fluff of bluish light, and the great square tower rocked and trembled from its very foundations, swaying this way and that like a reed in the wind.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The mistress sent her maid for a small dram cup, which held about two gallons, and filled it with drink; I took up the vessel with much difficulty in both hands, and in a most respectful manner drank to her ladyship’s health, expressing the words as loud as I could in English, which made the company laugh so heartily, that I was almost deafened with the noise.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Beneath and around them blazed the huge fire, roaring and crackling on every side of the bailey, and even as they looked the two corner turrets fell in with a deafening crash, and the whole castle was but a shapeless mass, spouting flames and smoke from every window and embrasure.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

On the other hand, a deafening burst of cheering greeted the rival herald, who, advancing from the other end of the lists, rolled forth the well-known titles of the five famous warriors who had accepted the defiance.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The clang of blows, the cries of the stricken, the short, deep shout of the islanders, and the fierce whoops of the rovers, rose together in a deafening tumult, while the breath of the panting men went up in the wintry air like the smoke from a furnace.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Scarce had the last deep amen broken from the Company, when, in an instant, there rose the scream of a hundred bugles, with the deep rolling of drums and the clashing of cymbals, all sounding together in one deafening uproar.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)