noun
dumbbell
DUHM-behl
noun
1
A short handheld weight used for strength training, with a load on each end.
"She warmed up with a set of light dumbbell curls."
2
(informal) A stupid person.
"Don't be such a dumbbell — read the instructions first."
How to Use Dumbbell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMainly the gym weight held in each hand; also old-fashioned slang for a dim-witted person.
Common pairings
a pair of dumbbells
dumbbell curl
dumbbell press
Word Forms
dumbbells plural
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She warmed up with a set of light _____ curls.
Etymology
Coined in 16th-century England for a device used to silently practice the motion of ringing a church bell — literally a "dumb" (silent) version of a bell-pull. The exercise weight later took the same name because of its similar shape and motion.