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drown definition

drown (dro̵un)

intransitive verb

to die by suffocation in water or other liquid

Etymology: ME drounen, prob. < var. of ON drukna, drown, akin to OE druncnian, to become drunk, be drowned < druncen, pp. of drincan, drink

transitive verb

  1. to kill by suffocation in water or other liquid
    1. to cover with water; flood; inundate
    2. to overwhelm
  3. to be so loud as to overcome (another sound): usually with out
  4. to cause to disappear; get rid of to drown one's worries in drink

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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