doldrums

doldrums
doldrums dol"drums (d[o^]l"dr[u^]mz), n. pl. [Cf. Gael. doltrum grief, vexation?] A part of the ocean near the equator, abounding in calms, squalls, and light, baffling winds, which sometimes prevent all progress for weeks; -- so called by sailors. [1913 Webster]

{To be in the doldrums}, to be in a state of listlessness ennui, or tedium. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • doldrums — dol‧drums [ˈdɒldrəmz ǁ ˈdoʊl , ˈdɑːl , ˈdɒːl ] noun [plural] informal if an industry or market is in the doldrums, there is very little increase in prices or very little trade taking place: • The mortgage market has been in the doldrums for three …   Financial and business terms

  • doldrums — If a person is in the doldrums, they are depressed. If a project or something similar is in the doldrums, it isn t making any progress …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • doldrums — ● doldrums nom masculin pluriel (anglais doldrums, calme équatorial) Zone des basses pressions équatoriales, région de calme atmosphérique séparant les alizés des deux hémisphères …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • doldrums — ► PLURAL NOUN (the doldrums) 1) a state of stagnation or depression. 2) a region of the Atlantic Ocean with calms, sudden storms, and light unpredictable winds. ORIGIN perhaps from DULL(Cf. ↑dulness) …   English terms dictionary

  • Doldrums — (engl., spr. dólldröms), s. Kalmen …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • doldrums — 1811, from dulled, pp. of dullen, from O.E. dol foolish, dull, ending perhaps patterned on tantrum …   Etymology dictionary

  • doldrums — boredom, ennui, *tedium Analogous words: dejection, depression, gloom, blues, dumps (see SADNESS) Antonyms: spirits, high spirits …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • doldrums — [n] depression apathy, black mood*, blahs*, blue funk*, blues*, boredom, bummer*, dejection, disinterest, dismals, downer, dullness, dumps*, ennui, funk*, gloom, inactivity, indifference, inertia, lassitude, letdown, listlessness, malaise, mopes* …   New thesaurus

  • doldrums — [dōl′drəmz, däl′drəmz] pl.n. [< ? ME dul (see DULL), after TANTRUM] 1. a) low spirits; dull, gloomy, listless feeling b) sluggishness or complete inactivity; stagnation 2. a) equatorial ocean regions note …   English World dictionary

  • doldrums — dol|drums [ˈdɔldrəmz US ˈdoul , ˈda:l , ˈdo:l ] n [plural] informal [Date: 1700 1800; Origin: Perhaps from dold stupid (1400 1500)] a) if an industry, company, activity etc is in the doldrums, it is not doing well or developing in the doldrums ▪… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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