DUD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does dud mean? 

• DUD (noun)
  The noun DUD has 3 senses:

1. someone who is unsuccessful

2. an explosion that fails to occur

3. an event that fails badly or is totally ineffectual

  Familiarity information: DUD used as a noun is uncommon.

• DUD (adjective)
  The adjective DUD has 1 sense:

1. failing to detonate; especially not charged with an active explosive

  Familiarity information: DUD used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DUD (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Someone who is unsuccessful

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

dud; flop; washout

Hypernyms ("dud" is a kind of...):

failure; loser; nonstarter; unsuccessful person (a person with a record of failing; someone who loses consistently)

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An explosion that fails to occur

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

dud; misfire

Hypernyms ("dud" is a kind of...):

breakdown; equipment failure (a cessation of normal operation)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An event that fails badly or is totally ineffectual

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

bomb; dud; turkey

Context example:

the meeting was a dud as far as new business was concerned

Hypernyms ("dud" is a kind of...):

bust; fizzle; flop (a complete failure)

• DUD (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Failing to detonate; especially not charged with an active explosive

Context example:

he stepped on a dud mine

Similar:

unloaded ((of weapons) not charged with ammunition)