obtuse

[ uhb-toos, -tyoos ]
/ əbˈtus, -ˈtyus /

adjective

not quick or alert in perception, feeling, or intellect; not sensitive or observant; dull.
not sharp, acute, or pointed; blunt in form.
(of a leaf, petal, etc.) rounded at the extremity.
indistinctly felt or perceived, as pain or sound.

Origin of obtuse

1500–10; < Latin obtūsus dulled (past participle of obtundere), equivalent to ob- ob- + tūd-, variant stem of tundere to beat + -tus past participle suffix, with dt > s

OTHER WORDS FROM obtuse

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH obtuse

abstruse obtuse

Example sentences from the Web for obtusely

British Dictionary definitions for obtusely

obtuse
/ (əbˈtjuːs) /

adjective

mentally slow or emotionally insensitive
maths
  1. (of an angle) lying between 90° and 180°
  2. (of a triangle) having one interior angle greater than 90°
not sharp or pointed
indistinctly felt, heard, etc; dull obtuse pain
(of a leaf or similar flat part) having a rounded or blunt tip

Derived forms of obtuse

obtusely, adverb obtuseness, noun

Word Origin for obtuse

C16: from Latin obtūsus dulled, past participle of obtundere to beat down; see obtund

Medical definitions for obtusely

obtuse
[ ŏb-tōōs, əb- ]

adj.

Lacking quickness of perception or intellect.
Not sharp or acute; blunt.