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# deafen

verb (deafen, deafens, deafened, deafening)

«deafen» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To make so much noise that people cannot hear anything else, or can hardly hear for a while: «The music deafened us». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deafen/#m1)
2. To damage someone's hearing or make them deaf: «The explosion deafened him in one ear». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deafen/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science lessons on sound, very loud noises (measured in decibels) can damage the tiny hair cells in the inner ear; ear defenders and earplugs protect hearing at concerts, fireworks and in noisy jobs. In stories, «deafening» noise and «deafening silence» add drama. Phrases: «a deafening roar», «deafening noise», «a deafening silence» (a silence that is very noticeable, often after something awkward).

### Examples

- The cheers of the crowd deafened us. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deafen/#x1)
- The fireworks were so loud they nearly deafened the dog. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deafen/#x2)
- Wear ear defenders so the drills don't deafen you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deafen/#x3)
- The explosion deafened him in one ear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deafen/#x4)
- There was a deafening roar as the rocket took off. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deafen/#x5)
- When the teacher asked who broke the window, there was a deafening silence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deafen/#x6)
- He next hastened to the aviary, and was almost deafened by the clamour that rose as he shut the door behind him. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deafen/#x7)

### Note

Said «DEF-un» (the «deaf» part rhymes with «chef»). The adjective «deafening» (very loud) is used more than the verb. Respectful language: «deaf» is a normal word, and many Deaf people use sign language (BSL in the UK, ASL in the USA and Canada, Auslan in Australia).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «deafen» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deafen/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«deafen» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/deafen.html) on Mova free.