# stunning

Pronunciation: US say "STUN-ing" /ˈstʌnɪŋ/; UK

## Adjective

1. Extremely beautiful or attractive, in a way that makes a strong impression. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Very beautiful in a way that surprises people.
   - _The bride looked stunning as she walked down the aisle._
   - _Visitors gasped at the stunning gardens behind the old palace._
2. Remarkably good or impressive, enough to amaze those who encounter it. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: So good that it amazes the people who see it.
   - _The startup posted stunning growth in its first year of trading._
   - _The orchestra delivered a stunning performance of the symphony._
3. Producing an effect that knocks out, dazes, or shocks a person or animal into helplessness.
   - Simple: Strong enough to knock someone out or leave them dazed.
   - _The crash sent a stunning impact through the driver's whole body._
   - _A stunning current passes through the device before the animal is handled._

## Verb

4. Present participle and gerund of stun. — present participle and gerund of stun
   - Simple: The -ing form of stun. Use it after am, is, are, was or were, or to name the action.
   - _The plant uses electric shocks for stunning poultry before processing._
   - _The new device is capable of stunning an attacker from fifteen feet away._

## Noun

5. An act of rendering a person or animal senseless, usually by a blow or an electric shock.
   - Simple: The action of knocking a person or animal out or into a daze.
   - _Electrical stunning is standard practice in most modern slaughterhouses._
   - _The stunning of the fish was over in an instant._

## Origin

**Meanings 1–4** — From Middle English stunnyng (also stounyng), equivalent to "stun" plus the suffix "-ing".
**Meaning 5** — From Middle English stunnyng or stonyng, equivalent to "stun" plus the suffix "-ing".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/stunning (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).