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# dull

adjective (dull, duller, dullest); verb (dull, dulls, dulled, dulling)

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

## Everyday

1. Dull means boring, not interesting or exciting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dull/#m1)
2. Dull means not bright or shiny, like a grey sky or faded colours. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dull/#m2)
3. A dull blade or pencil is not sharp. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dull/#m3)
4. A dull sound or pain is not sharp or clear but soft and heavy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dull/#m4)
5. To dull something is to make it less strong or less bright. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dull/#m5)

### In the lessons

In writing lessons, children replace dull words with interesting ones. In weather, a dull day is cloudy and grey. In science, metals are shiny but some materials are dull. In health, a dull ache is a steady pain. Phrases: «a dull day», «never a dull moment», «a dull ache», «dull the pain».

### Examples

- The film was so dull that I fell asleep. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dull/#x1)
- It was a dull, grey morning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dull/#x2)
- This knife is dull; it won't cut the bread. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dull/#x3)
- I heard a dull thud from upstairs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dull/#x4)
- He had a dull pain in his tooth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dull/#x5)
- Polish the dull spoons until they shine. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dull/#x6)
- With my little brother around, there's never a dull moment. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dull/#x7)
- The medicine dulled the pain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dull/#x8)
- Soon he found life in the pasture very dull. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dull/#x9)

### Note

Comparatives: duller, dullest. Opposites: «interesting», «exciting» (boring sense); «bright», «shiny» (look); «sharp» (blade). Safety oddity: a dull knife can be more dangerous because you push harder. In science, «dull» is a property of materials, opposite of «shiny». Not a number word.

## In Jewish tradition

In the skin law, "dull white" describes a harmless spot that is clean. Elsewhere dull means slow to understand, or not able to hear well.

**Interpretation.** The priest judges the spot, and dull white means the person is clean. Jeremiah's "dull" ear is read as people who will not listen to God's word.

### Examples

- then the priest shall look; and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be of a dull white, it is a tetter, it hath broken out in the skin: he is clean. (Torah LEV.13.39, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/dull/#x1)
- Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed dull in your sight? (Writings JOB.18.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/dull/#x2)
- Behold, their ear is dull, and they cannot attend; behold, the word of the LORD is become unto them a reproach, they have no delight in it. (Prophets JER.6.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/dull/#x3)

### Note

Comparatives: duller, dullest. Opposites: «interesting», «exciting» (boring sense); «bright», «shiny» (look); «sharp» (blade). Safety oddity: a dull knife can be more dangerous because you push harder. In science, «dull» is a property of materials, opposite of «shiny». Not a number word.

## On Mova

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