What is the difference between dumb and mute

Eyler, Joshua. Farnham: Ashgate, Hubert, Jane. Leach, Elizabeth E. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, Metzler, Irina. Bristol: Routledge. Richardson, Kristina L. Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP, Turner, Wendy J. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen, Skip to content. One who, from deafness, either congenital or from early life, is unable to use articulate language; a deaf-mute. A person employed by undertakers at a funeral. A person whose part in a play does not require him to speak. Among the Turks, an officer or attendant who is selected for his place because he can not speak.

A letter which represents no sound; a silent letter; also, a close articulation; an element of speech formed by a position of the mouth organs which stops the passage of the breath; as, p, b, d, k, t. A little utensil made of brass, ivory, or other material, so formed that it can be fixed in an erect position on the bridge of a violin, or similar instrument, in order to deaden or soften the tone.

We're driving in circles! We should have asked for directions an hour ago! Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also, produced by complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt the passage of breath; said of certain letters. An object for dulling the sound of an instrument, especially a brass instrument, or damper for pianoforte; a sordine. The difference between Dumb and Mute When used as verbs , dumb means to silence, whereas mute means to silence, to make quiet.

However, it is not used in this way in modern speech by most people, and it can actually be considered quite offensive. The only way it is generally used in English today is to mean temporarily speechless, as with shock or fear. For example: I was dumb with disbelief when she appeared out of nowhere. Less frequently, but sometimes still used, it can also mean to be unwilling to speak, as in being shy.

For example: That was a dumb mistake. It can also be used to indicate that something was unintentional or haphazard, and that it did not require any skill. It implies that the lack of ability to speak comes from a lack of intelligence or development, which is not the case in a deaf person.

While it still continues to be used to refer to people that are unable to speak, it can be considered offensive by some. It should be used with caution when referring to people. It most commonly, perhaps, used as verb meaning to turn off the sound of something.