adj (1) 暗淡的，阴暗的，不清楚的 (not bright or clear)：a～colour/grey colour/glow 暗淡的颜色/暗灰色/暗淡的光;The sea is a～grey. 海水是暗灰色。a～sky/day/morning 阴沉的天空/日子/早晨;～weather 阴沉的天气;It's～today. 今天天阴。 The day was～but dry. 天阴，但没下雨。 hear a～thud/knocking sound 听见沉闷的撞击声/低沉的敲打声;be～of hearing 有点聋;〖反〗bright， clear;

(2) 迟钝的，愚笨的 (slow in thinking and understanding; stupid)：a～child/student 迟钝的孩子/学生;a～mind/answer 愚笨的头脑/回答;～of comprehension 理解力差;Their son is very～. 他们的儿子头脑迟钝。〖同〗slow， stupid;〖反〗clever， bright， intelligent;

(3) 钝的 (not sharp)：a～knife/pencil/point/chisel 钝刀/铅笔/头/凿子;the～edge of a knife 钝的刀刃;〖反〗sharp;

(4) 枯燥乏味的 (not interesting or exciting; boring)：～work 枯燥乏味的工作;a～book/story/play/speech/party/conference/performer 枯燥乏味的书/故事/剧/讲话/聚会/会议/表演者;find the country/the town/the hospital routine/the work～发现农村/镇上/医院常规/工作单调乏味;It will be～here without you. 你不在这里会没意思的。〖同〗 boring， uninteresting， unexciting;〖反〗 interesting， exciting;

(5) 轻微的，隐隐的 ((of pain) not sharply or clearly felt)：a～ache/pain in one's side 肋部轻微的疼痛; stare at sb in～discomfort 有点不安地凝视某人;

(6)不兴隆的，萧条的 ((of trade， business， etc) not busy or active)：Business/Trading is～. 生意/交易萧条。The trade centre had a very～day/period. 交易中心这一天/这个时期买卖很是萧条。a～period 萧条期;〖同〗slow， inactive;〖反〗active， lively， spirited;

→′dully adv 暗淡(阴暗)地;迟钝地;枯燥地;′dullness n 暗淡;迟钝;枯燥;′dullard n 头脑迟钝的人;

v (使)变钝(变迟钝，减轻) ((cause to) become less bright， sharp， strong or aware) [I， T+n]：His mind～ed. 他的脑子迟钝了。～a knife/the edge of a razor/one's wits/one's senses 使刀子/刮脸刀的刃/智力/知觉变(迟)钝;～one's appetite 使胃口变差;take an aspirin/drugs to～the ache (the pain) 服阿斯匹林/药以减轻疼痛;eyes and ears～ed by age 因年岁大而耳聋眼花;(time)～the edge of sb's grief (时间)使悲伤减轻