dummy

Pluraldummies

Formsdummies, dummying, dummied

1. 1
   life-size figurenouncountable

   A model of a person, the same size and shape, used instead of a real person.

   Firefighters practice by carrying a heavy dummy out of a smoky room.

   The store put a dummy in the window to show off the new coats.

   UsageWe say crash-test dummy.

   Similarmannequin

   Note
2. 2
   adjective

   Not real or not meant for real use, but standing in for the real thing as a fake or for practice.

   The shop put up a dummy camera to scare away thieves.

   The website shows dummy text until the real stories are ready.

   UsageUsed before a noun: a dummy company.

   Similarfake, sham, mock

   Oppositereal, genuine, live

   Note
3. 3
   foolnouncolloquialcountable

   Someone who is not very smart.

   I locked my keys in the car again. What a dummy I am!

   Please don't call your little brother a dummy.

   Similardumdum

   Oppositegenius

4. 4
   talking dollnouncountable

   A puppet used by a ventriloquist, a performer who makes it seem to talk.

   The kids laughed when the dummy started arguing with its owner.

   The performer sat the dummy on her knee and asked it a question.

   Similarpuppet

5. 5
   nouncountable

   A fake tool or machine that does not work, used instead of a real one.

   The phones on display are dummies with nothing inside.

   The camera over the door is only a dummy, but it still scares thieves.

   Similarreplica, fake, imitation

   Note
6. 6
   for babiesnounAustraliaIrelandNew ZealandUKcountable

   A rubber or plastic thing that a baby sucks on to feel calm.

   The baby dropped her dummy on the floor of the bus.

   Mum put a clean dummy in his mouth, and he stopped crying.

   UsageAmericans say pacifier.

   Similarsoother, binky, comforter

   Note
7. 7
   card gamenoun

   In bridge, the player whose cards lie face up for the partner to play, or those cards.

   As dummy, my grandma laid down her cards and went to make tea.

   When you are dummy, you just watch your partner play.

   UsageOften no article: as dummy.

   Note
8. 8
   fake a moveverbtransitive

   To pretend to make a move in a game to trick a player from the other team.

   He dummied the defender and ran into the open space.

   Watch her dummy the ball and let it roll to her teammate.

   UsageYou dummy a player or a pass.

   Similarjuke

   Note
9. 9
   fake a movenouncountable

   A fake pass or kick, or a body move, that tricks a player on the other team.

   She sold the defender a dummy and ran right past him.

   His dummy fooled the goalkeeper, who dived the wrong way.

   UsageSay throw a dummy or sell a dummy.

   Similarfeint, fake, juke

   Note
10. 10
    unused valuenouncountable

    A value in a program that is there but is not used.

    Pass a zero as a dummy for the last setting.

    The function ignores the third value, so it's just a dummy.

    Similarplaceholder

    Note

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