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English (UK)
Cambridge Dictionary Online

Meaning of obtuse in English

obtuse
adjective
uk
/əbˈtʃuːs/ us
/ɑːbˈtuːs/

obtuse adjective (ANGLE)

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mathematics   specialized
(of an angle) more than 90° and less than 180°
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acute adjective (ANGLE)
reflex adjective specialized
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Geometry: describing angles, lines & orientations
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obtuse adjective (STUPID)

formal
stupid and slow to understand, or unwilling to try to understand:
The answer's obvious - or are you being deliberately obtuse?
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Stupid and silly
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Related words

obtusely
obtuseness
(Definition of obtuse from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

obtuse | American Dictionary

obtuse
adjective
us
/əbˈtus, ɑb-/

obtuse adjective (ANGLE)

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geometry
(of an angle) more than 90° and less than 180°, or (of a triangle) containing an angle of more than 90° and less than 180°

obtuse adjective (STUPID)

stupid or slow to understand:
I’m not trying to be obtuse, but I don’t get it.
(Definition of obtuse from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of obtuse

obtuse
Frons polished and weakly punctate, the punctures anteriad the ocellar field sparse and shallow; ocellar triangle arranged to form an obtuse triangle with a slight depression anteriad the median ocellus.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
In the first case, all 4-gons contain two obtuse angles and two acute angles, so the pseudo-road finishes with an edge of two obtuse angles.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Referees are convinced that authors are too arrogant and obtuse to recognize blatant fallacies in their own reasoning, even when these have been called to their attention with crystalline lucidity.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
In the second case, there is a 4-gon whose angles are all obtuse; this 4-gon is unique in the sequence and its position is arbitrary.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Both are obsessed with image management and employ elaborate rituals to develop a producer's reputation, austerity and obtuse approachability, all of which are considered vital to sustaining one's career.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
They often turn their minds to obtuse subjects which do not affect the individual.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
They are not being obtuse or refusing to act.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
Is he trying to be obtuse, or can he not help that?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
I may be obtuse but, frankly, to me the point still remains obscure.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
He has since referred the case to the ombudsman, who has been totally obtuse and completely failed to understand the issues.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
We need more conciliation in the industry rather than obtuse legal tribunals, judgments, and so on.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
I am very obstinate and obtuse about matters of that sort.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
I may be very obtuse, but it is extremely vague and unsatisfactory.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
He has been obtuse, difficult, totally irrational and unreasonable to the detriment of the whole of his country.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
I was obtuse in seeing that all the preliminary parts of his speech did lead up to the point.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
See all examples of obtuse
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
What is the pronunciation of obtuse?
 

Translations of obtuse

in Chinese (Traditional)
角度, （角度）鈍角的, 愚蠢的…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
角度, （角度）钝角的, 愚蠢的…
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in Spanish
obtuso…
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in Portuguese
obtuso…
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in more languages
in French
in Turkish
in Dutch
in Czech
in Danish
in Indonesian
in Thai
in Vietnamese
in Polish
in Swedish
in Malay
in German
in Norwegian
in Ukrainian
obtus…
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geniş açı…
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stomp…
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tupý…
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stump…
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tumpul…
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ซึ่งเป็นมุมป้าน…
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tù (góc)…
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(= kąt) rozwarty, rozwarty…
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trubbig…
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cakah…
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stumpf…
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stump (vinkel)…
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тупий…
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