mute

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a deaf person who is unable to speak
  2. noun a device used to soften the tone of a musical instrument
  3. verb deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping

Etymology

From Middle English muet, from Anglo-Norman muet, moet, Middle French muet, from mu (“dumb, mute”) + -et, remodelled after Latin mūtus.

In classic literature

Synonyms

deaf-mute, deaf-and-dumb person

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