duf|fle /dʌ f ə l/ → see duffel bag , duffel coat
dug /dʌ g/ Dug is the past tense and past participle of dig .
dug|out /dʌ gaʊt/ (dugouts )
1 N‑COUNT A dugout is a small boat that is made by removing the inside of a log.
2 N‑COUNT A dugout is a shelter made by digging a hole in the ground and then covering it or tunnelling so that the shelter has a roof over it.
duke /djuː k, [AM ] duː k/ (dukes ) N‑COUNT A duke is a man with a very high social rank. □ …the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
duke|dom /djuː kdəm, [AM ] duː k-/ (dukedoms )
1 N‑COUNT A dukedom is the rank or title of a duke. □ …the present heir to the dukedom.
2 N‑COUNT A dukedom is the land owned by a duke.
dul|cet /dʌ ls I t/ PHRASE [with poss] People often use the expression dulcet tones to refer to someone's voice. [HUMOROUS ] □ You hear his dulcet tones on the Radio 1 trailers in the morning.
dull /dʌ l/ (duller , dullest , dulls , dulling , dulled )
1 ADJ If you describe someone or something as dull , you mean they are not interesting or exciting. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I felt she found me boring and dull. ● dull|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ They enjoy anything that breaks the dullness of their routine life.
2 ADJ Someone or something that is dull is not very lively or energetic. □ The body's natural rhythms mean we all feel dull and sleepy between 1 and 3pm. ● dul|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ His eyes looked dully ahead. ● dull|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ Did you notice any unusual depression or dullness of mind?
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A dull colour or light is not bright. □ The stamp was a dull blue colour. ● dul|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The street lamps gleamed dully through the night's mist.
4 ADJ You say the weather is dull when it is very cloudy. □ It's always dull and raining.
5 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Dull sounds are not very clear or loud. □ The coffin closed with a dull thud. ● dul|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ He heard his heart thump dully but more quickly.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] Dull feelings are weak and not intense. □ The pain, usually a dull ache, gets worse with exercise. ● dul|ly ADV □ His arm throbbed dully.
7 ADJ If a knife or blade is dull , it is not sharp. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
8 VERB If something dulls or if it is dulled , it becomes less intense, bright, or lively. □ [V ] Her eyes dulled and she gazed blankly. □ [V n] Share prices and trading have been dulled by worries over the war.
dull|ard /dʌ lə r d/ (dullards ) N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a dullard , you mean that they are rather boring, unintelligent, and unimaginative. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
duly /djuː li, [AM ] duː -/
1 ADV [ADV before v] If you say that something duly happened or was done, you mean that it was expected to happen or was requested, and it did happen or it was done. □ Westcott appealed to Waite for an apology, which he duly received.
2 ADV [ADV before v] If something is duly done, it is done in the correct way. [FORMAL ] □ …the duly elected president of the country.
dumb /dʌ m/ (dumber , dumbest , dumbs , dumbing , dumbed )
1 ADJ Someone who is dumb is completely unable to speak. [OFFENSIVE ] □ …a young deaf and dumb man.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If someone is dumb on a particular occasion, they cannot speak because they are angry, shocked, or surprised. [LITERARY ] □ We were all struck dumb for a minute. ● dumb|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ I shook my head dumbly, not believing him.
3 ADJ If you call a person dumb , you mean that they are stupid or foolish. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ The questions were set up to make her look dumb.
4 ADJ If you say that something is dumb , you think that it is silly and annoying. [AM , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ I came up with this dumb idea.
▸ dumb down PHRASAL VERB If you dumb down something, you make it easier for people to understand, especially when this spoils it. □ [V P n] No one favored dumbing down the magazine. [Also V n P , V ] ● dumb|ing down N‑UNCOUNT □ He accused broadcasters of contributing to the dumbing down of America.
dumb-bell /dʌ mbel/ (dumb-bells ) also dumbbell N‑COUNT A dumb-bell is a short bar with weights on either side which people use for physical exercise to strengthen their arm and shoulder muscles.
dumb|found /dʌ mfaʊ nd/ (dumbfounds , dumbfounding , dumbfounded ) VERB If someone or something dumbfounds you, they surprise you very much. □ [V n] This suggestion dumbfounded Joe.
dumb|found|ed /dʌ mfaʊ nd I d/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are dumbfounded , you are extremely surprised by something. □ I stood there dumbfounded.
dumb|struck /dʌ mstrʌk/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are dumbstruck , you are so shocked or surprised that you cannot speak. [EMPHASIS ]
du mb wai t|er (dumb waiters ) also dumbwaiter N‑COUNT A dumb waiter is a lift used to carry food and dishes from one floor of a building to another.
dum-dum /dʌ m dʌm/ (dum-dums ) N‑COUNT A dum-dum or a dum-dum bullet is a bullet that is very soft or hollow at the front. Dum-dum bullets cause large and serious wounds because they break into small pieces and spread out when they hit someone.