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DOLDRUMS

 - 5 dictionary results

dol⋅drums

  [dohl-druhmz, dol-, dawl-]
Use DOLDRUMS in a Sentence
–noun (used with a plural verb)
1. a state of inactivity or stagnation, as in business or art: August is a time of doldrums for many enterprises.
2. the doldrums,
a. a belt of calms and light baffling winds north of the equator between the northern and southern trade winds in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
b. the weather prevailing in this area.
3. a dull, listless, depressed mood; low spirits.
Origin:
1795–1805; obs. dold stupid (see dolt ) + -rum(s) (pl.) n. suffix (see tantrum )

Synonyms:
3. depression, gloom, melancholy, dejection.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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dol·drums   (dōl'drəmz', dôl'-, dŏl'-)   
pl.n.   (used with a sing. or pl. verb)

    1. A period of stagnation or slump.

    2. A period of depression or unhappy listlessness.

    3. A region of the ocean near the equator, characterized by calms, light winds, or squalls.

    4. The weather conditions characteristic of these regions of the ocean.

    1. A region of the ocean near the equator, characterized by calms, light winds, or squalls.

    2. The weather conditions characteristic of these regions of the ocean.


[From obsolete doldrum, dullard, alteration (influenced by tantrum) of Middle English dold, past participle of dullen, to dull, from dul, dull; see dull.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

doldrums 
1811, from dulled, pp. of dullen, from O.E. dol "foolish, dull," ending perhaps patterned on tantrum.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

doldrums

see in the doldrums.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Encyclopedia

doldrums

equatorial regions of light ocean currents and winds within the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), a belt of converging winds and rising air encircling the Earth near the Equator. The northeast and southeast trade winds meet there; this meeting causes air uplift and often produces clusters of convective thunderstorms. They occur along the Equator in the Indian and western Pacific oceans and slightly north of the Equator off the African and Central American west coasts. The crews of sailing ships dreaded the doldrums because their ships were often becalmed there; the designation for the resultant state of depression was apparently thus extended to these geographic regions themselves.

Learn more about doldrums with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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