noun

dumbbell

dumbbell

He lifts dumbbells to build his arm muscles.

He lifts dumbbells to build his arm muscles.

She bought a set of adjustable dumbbells.

She bought a set of adjustable dumbbells.

to lift dumbbells to raise dumbbells for exercise He lifts dumbbells every morning.

Synonyms: weight, free weight, barbell

Originally an exercise device that mimicked ringing a church bell but made no sound, hence it was a 'dumb' bell.

Break it down into 'dumb' (silent) + 'bell'. Imagine a piece of gym equipment shaped like a bell that makes no noise when you use it.

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