leaden

American  

[led-n] / ˈlɛd n /

adjective

1. inertly heavy like lead; hard to lift or move.

   a leaden weight; leaden feet.

2. dull, spiritless, or gloomy, as in mood or thought.

   leaden prose; a leaden atmosphere.

3. of a dull gray color.

   leaden skies.

4. oppressive; heavy.

   a leaden silence.

5. sluggish; listless.

   They moved at a leaden pace.

6. of poor quality or little value.

7. made or consisting of lead.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make leaden, sluggish, dull, etc..

   Fatigue had leadened his brain and step.

leaden British  

/ ˈlɛdən /

adjective

1. heavy and inert

2. laboured or sluggish

   leaden steps

3. gloomy, spiritless, or lifeless

4. made partly or wholly of lead

5. of a dull greyish colour

   a leaden sky

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Other Word Forms

• leadenly adverb
• leadenness noun

Etymology

Origin of leaden

before 1000; Middle English leden, Old English lēaden. See lead ², -en ²

Related Words

• ponderous
• weighty