transitive. To dull, or make less sharp (an edge or point).

To take off the sharpness of, to blunt (an edge or point, or something edged or pointed). Often figurative in to dull the edge of = 3b.

transitive. To blunt a weapon; to dull the edge or point of a blade, etc. Frequently figurative and in figurative context. Cf. rebated, adj.1 1. Now…

transitive. To blunt, dull; to render obtuse.

transitive. To beat back or blunt the edge of. literal and figurative. (Perhaps in figurative use combined with some idea of bait, v. II., as if…

transitive. To blunt (an edge, point, etc.). Also intransitive: (of an edge, etc.) to become blunt. Frequently (now only) figurative and in…

transitive. To bend back (the edge of a sharp instrument) so as to blunt it or make it useless for cutting. Also figurative. Now rare.

transitive. To take the edge off; to blunt. Also figurative.

transitive. To dull or blunt (the edge of a weapon). Also figurative.

To deprive of its active or effective physical quality; to deaden, make ‘dead’, extinguish.