Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

obtuse

/əbˈt(j)us/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.04 in modern English

Syllables
ob-tuse
IPA
/əbˈt(j)us/
8
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Blunt; not sharp, pointed, or acute in form.

adj

Blunt; not sharp, pointed, or acute in form.

adj

Blunt; not sharp, pointed, or acute in form.

adj

Blunt; not sharp, pointed, or acute in form.

adj

Of sound, etc.: deadened, muffled, muted.

verb

To dull or reduce an emotion or a physical state.

Obsolete; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English obtuse, from Latin obtūsus (“blunt, dull; obtuse”), past participle of obtundere, from obtundō (“to batter, beat, strike; to blunt, dull”), from ob- (“against”) (see ob-) + tundō (“to beat, strike; to bruise, crush, pound”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewd-, from *(s)tew- (“to hit; to push”)). More at obtund.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: *(s)tewd-, obtuse, obtūsus

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /əbˈt(j)us/
  • British English: /əbˈtjuːs/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

obtuse-angled triangle obtuse-angular obtuse horn shell obtuse angle obtuse-angled obtuse barracuda obtuse demoulia obtuse margin

Synonyms

Antonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce obtuse?
The recorded pronunciation is /əbˈt(j)us/.
What does obtuse mean?
Blunt; not sharp, pointed, or acute in form.
Where does obtuse come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce obtuse

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “obtuse”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/əbˈt(j)us/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “obtuse”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “obtuse” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.