down
down (do̵un)
adverb
- from a higher to a lower place; toward the ground
- in, on, or to a lower position or level; specif., to a sitting or reclining position
- in or to a place thought of as lower or below; often, specif., southward to go down to Florida
- out of one's hand put it down
- below the horizon
- from an earlier to a later period or person down through the years
- into a low or dejected emotional condition
- into a low or prostrate physical condition to come down with a cold
- in or into an inferior position or condition held down by harsh laws
- to a lower amount, value, or bulk to come down in price
- to a less excited or active condition; into a tranquil or quiet state to settle down
- to a lower volume of sound turn down the radio
- in a serious or earnest manner to get down to work
- completely; to the full extent loaded down
- in cash or when bought five dollars down and the remainder in installments
- 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
- descending; directed toward a lower position
- in a lower place; on the ground
- gone, brought, pulled, etc. down
- depressed; dejected
- Slang depressing or downbeat a down atmosphere
- dejected; discouraged
- prostrate; ill
- completed; finished four down, six to go
- inoperative the computer is down
- characterized by low or falling prices
- Slang
- nice, good, excellent, etc.
- sophisticated, stylish, etc.; cool; hip
- Sports
- ☆ no longer in play: said of a football
- trailing an opponent by a specified number of points, strokes, etc.
- ☆ Baseball put out
transitive verb
- to put, bring, get, throw, or knock down
- to defeat, as in a game
- to gulp or eat rapidly
intransitive verb
noun
- a downward movement or depressed condition; defeat, misfortune, etc.
- ☆ Football
- 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
- the declaring of the ball as down, or no longer in play
- Slang a barbiturate or other depressant drug; downer
down and out
☆- Boxing knocked out
- lacking enough money, shelter, a job, etc.; destitute or impoverished
down on
down to the ground
down with!
down (do̵un)
noun
- soft, fluffy feathers, as the outer covering on young birds or an inner layer of feathers on adult birds
- 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
down (do̵un)
noun
Etymology: ME doun < OE dun, a hill, akin to ODu duna, LowG düne, sandhill: see dune
Down (do̵un)
- former county of E Northern Ireland: c. 952 sq mi (2,466 sq km)
- (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.
| Topic | Replies | Latest Post |
|---|---|---|
| Sat us down | 9 | 9 months ago |
| let down | 6 | 11 months ago |
| Weebles wobble, but they don't fall down!" | 5 | 5 years ago |
| Going UP or DOWN to somewhere? | 40 | 5 years ago |
| water down the plug hole | 18 | 5 years ago |
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