# numb
## English
### Etymology

From the past participle of nim (“to take”). Compare German benommen (“dazed, numb”) and Old Norse numinn. The final ⟨b⟩ is a later addition; it was never pronounced, and did not appear in the original word.

### Pronunciation

* enPR: nŭm, IPA: /nʌm/
* Audio (Southern England):(file)
* Rhymes: -ʌm

### Adjective

numb (comparative number, superlative numbest)
* Physically unable to feel, not having the power of sensation.
    Synonyms: deadened, insensible
    fingers numb with cold
    legs numb from kneeling
* Emotionally unable to feel or respond in a normal way.
    Synonym: stunned
    numb with shock; numb with boredom
** 1915, Nellie McClung, chapter 2, in In Times Like These‎, Toronto: McLeod & Allen:[…] when we know that hundreds are rendered homeless every day, and countless thousands are killed and wounded, men and boys mowed down like a field of grain, and with as little compunction, we grow a little bit numb to human misery.
** 1966, Truman Capote, In Cold Blood‎, New York: Modern Library, published 1992, Part One, p. 77:[…] seeing the dog—somehow that made me feel again. I’d been too dazed, too numb, to feel the full viciousness of it.
** 2016, Julian Barnes, The Noise of Time‎, Random House Canada, Part Three:[…] he submitted […] as a traitor, his mind numb with vodka, submits to a firing squad.
* (Maine) Dumb or stupid.
* (obsolete) Causing numbness.
** c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:[…] he did lap me Even in his own garments, and gave himself, All thin and naked to the numb cold night.

#### Antonyms

* sensible, sensitive

#### Derived terms

* benumb
* brain-numbing
* numb-brained
* numb-handed
* numbly
* numbness
* numbnuts

#### Related terms

* numskull

#### Translations
### Verb

numb (third-person singular simple present numbs, present participle numbing, simple past and past participle numbed)
* (transitive) To cause to become numb (physically or emotionally).
    Synonym: benumb
    The dentist gave me novocaine to numb my tooth before drilling, thank goodness.
    When I first heard the news, I was numbed by the shock.
** 1600 or 1601 (date written), I. M. [i.e., John Marston], “The Prologue”, in Antonios Reuenge. The Second Part. […], London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Thomas Fisher, and are to be soulde [by Matthew Lownes] […], published 1602, →OCLC, signature A2, recto:The ravviſh danke of clumzie vvinter ramps / The fluent ſummers vaine: and drizling ſleete / Chilleth the vvan bleak cheek of the numd earth, / VVhilſt ſnarling guſts nibble the iuyceles leaues, / From the nak't ſhuddring branch; […]An adjective use.
** 2020 April 22, “Letters: Open Access: Not easy for laptops”, in Rail, page 31:But her main concern is the hard seating that numbs the nether regions.
* (transitive) To cause (a feeling) to be less intense.
    Synonym: dull
    He turned to alcohol to numb his pain.
** 1861, Elizabeth Gaskell, “The Grey Woman”, in The Grey Woman and Other Tales‎, London: Smith, Elder & Co.:[I was] thankful for the pain, which helped to numb my terror.
* (transitive) To cause (the mind, faculties, etc.) to be less acute.
    Synonym: dull
** 1912, Saki, “The Hounds of Fate”, in The Chronicles of Clovis‎, London: John Lane, page 219:[…] hunger, fatigue, and despairing hopelessness had numbed his brain […]
** 1927, Hugh Lofting, Doctor Dolittle’s Garden‎, Part Four, Chapter 6:The noise, the rush of air past our ears, was positively terrific. It actually seemed to numb the senses and make it almost impossible to take in impressions at all.
** 2004, Cory Doctorow, chapter 13, in Eastern Standard Tribe‎:[The sofa] exhaled a breath of trapped ancient farts, barf-smell, and antiseptic, the parfum de asylum that gradually numbed my nose to all other scents on the ward.
* (intransitive) To become numb (especially physically).
** 1918, Lewis R. Freeman, “Wonders of the Teleferica”, in Many Fronts‎, London: John Murray, page 270:[…] after fumbling with numbing fingers for ten or fifteen minutes, he waved his hand with a gesture of despair […]
** 1919, Arthur Murray Chisholm, chapter 18, in The Land of Strong Men‎, New York: H.K. Fly:[…] once more his feet began to numb. Again he got down and stamped the circulation going, but as soon as he began to ride again they numbed.

#### Derived terms

* mind-numbing
* numb out