dulling

Verb (1)

dull (third-person singular simple present dulls, present participle dulling, simple past and past participle dulled)

1. (transitive) To render dull; to remove or blunt an edge or something that was sharp.
   • Years of misuse have dulled the tools.
2. (transitive) To soften, moderate or blunt; to make dull, stupid, or sluggish; to stupefy.
   • He drinks to dull the pain.
3. (intransitive) To lose a sharp edge; to become dull.
   • A razor will dull with use.
4. To render dim or obscure; to sully; to tarnish.

Verb (2)

dull (third-person singular simple present dulls, present participle dulling, simple past and past participle dulled)

1. (Ireland, Southern US, archaic, obsolete) To fish (or snare an animal, especially a fish) with such a noose.
   • I hope that the barbarous practice called dulling has gone out of fashion.1880 March 11, Forest and Stream

See all 19 meanings of dull