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down1 definition

down (do̵un)

adverb

  1. from a higher to a lower place; toward the ground
  2. in, on, or to a lower position or level; specif., to a sitting or reclining position
    1. in or to a place thought of as lower or below; often, specif., southward to go down to Florida
    2. out of one's hand put it down
  3. below the horizon
  4. from an earlier to a later period or person down through the years
  5. into a low or dejected emotional condition
  6. into a low or prostrate physical condition to come down with a cold
  7. in or into an inferior position or condition held down by harsh laws
  8. to a lower amount, value, or bulk to come down in price
    1. to a less excited or active condition; into a tranquil or quiet state to settle down
    2. to a lower volume of sound turn down the radio
  9. in a serious or earnest manner to get down to work
  10. completely; to the full extent loaded down
  11. in cash or when bought five dollars down and the remainder in installments
  12. in writing; on record take down his name

Etymology: ME doun < adune, adown < OE adune, ofdune, from the hill < a-, of-, off, from + dune, dat. of dun, hill: see down

adjective

  1. descending; directed toward a lower position
  2. in a lower place; on the ground
  3. gone, brought, pulled, etc. down
    1. depressed; dejected
    2. Slang depressing or downbeat a down atmosphere
  4. dejected; discouraged
  5. prostrate; ill
  6. completed; finished four down, six to go
  7. inoperative the computer is down
  8. characterized by low or falling prices
  9. Slang
    1. nice, good, excellent, etc.
    2. sophisticated, stylish, etc.; cool; hip
  10. Sports
    1. ☆ no longer in play: said of a football
    2. trailing an opponent by a specified number of points, strokes, etc.
    3. Baseball put out

down or downward, along, through, into, or upon down the street, down the chimney, down the river, down the stairs

transitive verb

    1. to put, bring, get, throw, or knock down
    2. to defeat, as in a game
  1. to gulp or eat rapidly

intransitive verb

Rare to go, come, or get down

noun

  1. a downward movement or depressed condition; defeat, misfortune, etc.
  2. Football
    1. one of four consecutive plays in which a team, in order to keep possession of the ball, must either score or advance the ball at least ten yards
    2. the declaring of the ball as down, or no longer in play
  3. Slang a barbiturate or other depressant drug; downer
down Idioms

down and out

  1. Boxing knocked out
  2. lacking enough money, shelter, a job, etc.; destitute or impoverished

down on

Informal hostile to; angry or annoyed with

down to the ground

thoroughly; completely

down with!

overthrow! do away with!
down2 definition

down (do̵un)

noun

  1. soft, fluffy feathers, as the outer covering on young birds or an inner layer of feathers on adult birds
  2. soft, fine hair or hairy growth

Etymology: ME doun < ON dūnn, akin to Goth dauns, fume < IE base *dheu-, to fly like dust, be turbid: see dull

down3 definition

down (do̵un)

noun

an expanse of open, high, grassy land: usually used in pl.

Etymology: ME doun < OE dun, a hill, akin to ODu duna, LowG düne, sandhill: see dune

Down definition

Down (do̵un)

  1. former county of E Northern Ireland: c. 952 sq mi (2,466 sq km)
  2. (do̵un)
    district in E Northern Ireland, in the S part of the former county: 249 sq mi (645 sq km); pop. 58,000

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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