Hypertext Webster Gateway: "blunt"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Blunt \Blunt\, a. [Cf. Prov. G. bludde a dull or blunt knife,
Dan. blunde to sleep, Sw. & Icel. blunda; or perh. akin to E.
blind.]
1. Having a thick edge or point, as an instrument; dull; not
sharp.

The murderous knife was dull and blunt. --Shak.

2. Dull in understanding; slow of discernment; stupid; --
opposed to {acute}.

His wits are not so blunt. --Shak.

3. Abrupt in address; plain; unceremonious; wanting the forms
of civility; rough in manners or speech. ``Hiding his
bitter jests in blunt behavior.'' ``A plain, blunt man.''
--Shak.

4. Hard to impress or penetrate. [R.]

I find my heart hardened and blunt to new
impressions. --Pope.

Note: Blunt is much used in composition, as blunt-edged,
blunt-sighted, blunt-spoken.

Syn: Obtuse; dull; pointless; curt; short; coarse; rude;
brusque; impolite; uncivil.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Blunt \Blunt\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Blunted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Blunting}.]
1. To dull the edge or point of, by making it thicker; to
make blunt. --Shak.

2. To repress or weaken, as any appetite, desire, or power of
the mind; to impair the force, keenness, or
susceptibility, of; as, to blunt the feelings.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Blunt \Blunt\, n.
1. A fencer's foil. [Obs.]

2. A short needle with a strong point. See {Needle}.

3. Money. [Cant] --Beaconsfield.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

blunt
adj 1: having a broad or rounded end; "thick marks made by a blunt
pencil"; "a blunt instrument"
2: used of a knife or other blade; not sharp; "a blunt
instrument"
3: characterized by disconcerting directness in manner or
speech; without subtlety or evasion; "blunt talking and
straight shooting"; "a blunt New England farmer"; "I gave
them my candid opinion"; "forthright criticism"; "a
forthright approach to the problem"; "tell me what you
think--and you may just as well be frank"; "it is possible
to be outspoken without being rude"; "plainspoken and to
the point"; "a point-blank accusation" [syn: {candid}, {forthright},
{frank}, {free-spoken}, {outspoken}, {plainspoken}, {point-blank}]
4: devoid of any qualifications or disguise or adornment; "the
blunt truth"; "the crude facts"; "facing the stark reality
of the deadline" [syn: {crude(a)}, {stark(a)}]
v 1: make less intense; "blunted emotions"
2: make numb or insensitive; "The shock numbed her senses"
[syn: {numb}, {benumb}, {dull}]
3: make dull or blunt, as of sharp edges or knives' blades
[syn: {dull}] [ant: {sharpen}]
4: make less sharp; "blunt the knives"
5: make less lively, intense, or vigorous; impair in vigor,
force, activity, or sensation; "Terror blunted her
feelings"; "deaden a sound" [syn: {deaden}] [ant: {enliven}]


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