Verb (1-dan, intransitive)
Usually written in kana
1. to grow senile; to be childish with age
2. to be mentally slow; to be befuddled
3. to play stupid; to say something stupid (oft. on purpose; esp. as part of a comedic routine)
4. to become engrossed in; to become absorbed in
after -masu stem of verb
when read as "ほうける"