What does "deaden" mean?

Deaden: To lessen the velocity or momentum of; to retard; as, to deaden a ship's headway.

Additional senses

  1. 2.To make vapid or spiritless; as, to deaden wine.
  2. 3.To deprive of gloss or brilliancy; to obscure; as, to deaden gilding by a coat of size.

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