Obtuse

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /É™bˈtjuːs/, /É™bˈtʃuːs/
• US IPA: /É™bˈt(j)us/, /É‘bˈt(j)us/
• Rhymes: -uːs

Origin

From Latin obtusus, past participle of obtundere ("to strike at or upon, beat, blunt, dull"), from ob ("upon") + tundere ("to strike").

Adjective

1. (now chiefly botany, zoology) Blunt; not sharp.
2. Intellectually dull or dim-witted.
3. Indirect or circuitous.
4. Of sound: deadened or muffled.
5. (geometry) Of an angle: greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees.
6. (geometry) Of a triangle: with one obtuse angle.

Synonyms

• (intellectually dull): dense, dim, dim-witted, thick informal
• (of a sound): deadened, muffled
• (blunt): blunt, dull
• (of a triangle): obtuse-angled

Antonyms

• (intellectually dull): bright, intelligent, on the ball, quick off the mark, quick-witted, sharp, smart
• (of a sound): clear
• (blunt): pointed, sharp
• (of an angle): acute
• (of a triangle): acute, acute-angled

Related terms

• obtund

Anagrams

• buteos