dumbbell
dumbbells
A dumbbell is a type of weight you might see at a gym. You typically lift a dumbbell with one hand — unless it's too heavy and you accidentally drop it on your foot. Ouch!
The short, handheld exercise weights are known as dumbbells, while the larger weights that require two hands for lifting are barbells. If you're new to weightlifting, you might want to start doing bicep curls with light dumbbells. The name comes from the bar once used to ring a church bell: dumbbells resemble these ringers, although they're dumb, or "silent." Dumbbell is also used in a derogatory way to mean "stupid person."
Definitions of dumbbell
-
an exercising weight; two spheres connected by a short bar that serves as a handle
-
type of:
-
exercising weight, free weight, weight
sports equipment used in calisthenic exercises and weightlifting; it is not attached to anything and is raised and lowered by use of the hands and arms
-
exercising weight, free weight, weight
-
an ignorant or foolish person
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘dumbbell'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
Send us feedback
Word Family
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Look up dumbbell for the last time
Close your vocabulary gaps with personalized learning that focuses on teaching the words you need to know.
