1 (ineffective) [+object] que no sirve para nada; [+person] inútil this can opener's useless este abrelatas no sirve para nada; compasses are useless in the jungle las brújulas no sirven para or de nada en la selva; she's useless es una inútil; he's useless as a forward no vale para delantero; no sirve como delantero; I was always useless at maths siempre fui (un) negado or un inútil para las matemáticas
2 (unusable) [+object, vehicle] inservible; [+limb] inutilizado; inútil she hoards all these useless objects in the retreat to Benghazi, scores of useless vehicles were abandoned as they broke down his arm was useless after the accident
he's a mine of useless information! se sabe todo tipo de datos y chorraditas que no sirven de nada (informal); to render or make sth useless inutilizar algo
rheumatism had rendered his left arm useless they had been promised software and support that never materialized,rendering their computers useless you can outperform your enemies to such a degree that their weapons are rendered useless The sole usually comes loose at the heel and starts flopping around after a few months' wear,rendering them pretty useless in the rain the storm made their instruments useless
3 (pointless) inútil she spends her time engaged in endless and useless arguments with him the war was lost and further resistance was useless
it's useless to shout de nada sirve gritar; es inútil gritar
