NUMBNESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does numbness mean? 

• NUMBNESS (noun)
  The noun NUMBNESS has 2 senses:

1. partial or total lack of sensation in a part of the body; a symptom of nerve damage or dysfunction

2. the trait of lacking enthusiasm for or interest in things generally

  Familiarity information: NUMBNESS used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NUMBNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Partial or total lack of sensation in a part of the body; a symptom of nerve damage or dysfunction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("numbness" is a kind of...):

symptom ((medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease)

Derivation:

numb (lacking sensation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The trait of lacking enthusiasm for or interest in things generally

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

apathy; indifference; numbness; spiritlessness

Hypernyms ("numbness" is a kind of...):

passiveness; passivity (the trait of remaining inactive; a lack of initiative)

Derivation:

numb ((followed by 'to') not showing human feeling or sensitivity; unresponsive)

 Context examples 

A condition marked by pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, or redness of the hands or feet.

(Hand-foot syndrome, NCI Dictionary)

A question about whether an individual has or had numbness.

(Have Numbness, NCI Thesaurus)

Tingling or numbness could be a sign of diabetes.

(Foot Health, NIH: National Institute on Aging)

You're working at your desk, trying to ignore the tingling or numbness you've had for some time in your hand and wrist.

(Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

A condition marked by numbness, tingling, pain, weakness, or limited movement in the arm or hand.

(Brachial plexopathy, NCI Dictionary)

A question about whether an individual feels or felt numbness or tingling in their feet.

(Have Numbness or Tingling in Feet, NCI Thesaurus)

A question about whether an individual feels or felt numbness or tingling in their hands.

(Have Numbness or Tingling in Hands, NCI Thesaurus)

A question about an individual's numbness or tingling in hands or feet interfering with usual or daily activities over the past seven days.

(Past Seven Days Numbness or Tingling in Hands or Feet Interfering with Usual or Daily Activities, NCI Thesaurus)

Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Scale (PDQUALIF) I have aching/burning/coldness/numbness in my hand/feet.

(PDQUALIF - Neuropathy in Hands or Feet, NCI Thesaurus)

A question about an individual's numbness and tingling at its worst.

(Numbness or Tingling at its Worst, NCI Thesaurus)