Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » rest

rest

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

Rest is relaxation, sleep or the feeling brought on by enough sleep.

(noun)

An example of rest is sitting down in a comfy chair after a long day.

See rest in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

1. peace, ease, and refreshment as produced by sleep
2. sleep or repose, or a period of this
refreshing ease or inactivity after work or exertion
a period or occasion of inactivity, as during work or on a journey
1. relief from anything distressing, annoying, tiring, etc.
2. peace of mind; mental and emotional calm; tranquillity
the repose of death
absence of motion; state of being still; immobility
a resting or stopping place; shelter or lodging place, as for travelers, sailors, etc.
a thing or device for supporting something; support: often used in combination: a footrest
Music
1. a measured interval of silence between tones
2. any of various symbols indicating the length of such an interval
Prosody a short pause in a line of verse; caesura

Origin: ME < OE, akin to Ger rast < IE base *ere-, *rē-, rest > Gr erōē, rest (from battle), OE row, Ger ruhe, rest, quiet, Goth razn, house

intransitive verb

1. to get peace, ease, and refreshment by sleeping, lying down, etc.
2. to sleep
to get ease and refreshment by ceasing from work or exertion
to be at ease or at peace; be tranquil
to be dead
to be or become quiet, still, or inactive for a while
to remain without change or further action: to let a matter rest
to be, or seem to be, supported; specif.,
1. to lie, sit, or lean
2. to be placed, based, or founded (in, on, upon, etc.)
to be placed or imposed as a burden or responsibility
to be or lie: the fault rests with him
to be directed or fixed: my eyes rested on the picture
to rely; depend
Agric. to remain unplowed or uncropped; lie fallow
☆ Law to end voluntarily the introduction of evidence in a case

Origin: ME restan < OE ræstan < the n.; infl. in some senses (esp. rest) by L restare, to stop, remain & the deriv. Fr rester

transitive verb

to give rest to; refresh by rest
to place, put, or lay for ease, support, etc.: to rest one's head on a pillow
to base; ground: to rest an argument on trivialities
to direct or fix (the eyes, etc.)
to bring to rest; stop
☆ Law to end voluntarily the introduction of evidence in (a case)

Related Forms:

rester noun

noun

what is left after part is taken away; remainder
the others

Origin: ME < MFr reste < OFr rester, to rest, remain < L restare, to stop, stand, rest, remain < re-, back + stare, to stand

intransitive verb

to go on being; continue to be; remain (as specified): rest assured that we will go

Origin: ME resten < OFr rester

transitive verb

Obsolete to cause to remain; keep: “God rest ye merry, gentlemen”

noun

a support for the butt of a lance, projecting from the side of the breastplate in medieval armor

Origin: ME aphetic, var. of arest, an arrest

See rest in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Cessation of work, exertion, or activity.
Peace, ease, or refreshment resulting from sleep or the cessation of an activity.
Sleep or quiet relaxation.
The repose of death: eternal rest.
Relief or freedom from disquiet or disturbance.
Mental or emotional tranquillity.
Termination or absence of motion.
Music
a. An interval of silence corresponding to one of the possible time values within a measure.
b. The mark or symbol indicating such a pause and its length.
A short pause in a line of poetry; a caesura.
A device used as a support: a back rest.
Games See bridge¹.

verb rest·ed, rest·ing, rests

verb, intransitive

To cease motion, work, or activity.
To lie down, especially to sleep.
To be at peace or ease; be tranquil.
To be, become, or remain temporarily still, quiet, or inactive: Let the issue rest here.
To be supported or based; lie, lean, or sit: The ladder rests firmly against the tree.
To be imposed or vested, as a responsibility or burden: The final decision rests with the chairperson.
To depend or rely: That argument rests on a false assumption.
To be located or be in a specified place: The original manuscript rests in the museum.
To be fixed or directed on something: “His brown eyes rested on her for a moment” (John le Carré).
To remain; linger.
Law To cease voluntarily the presentation of evidence in a case: The defense rests.

verb, transitive

To give rest or repose to: rested my eyes.
To place, lay, or lean for ease, support, or repose.
To base or ground: I rested my conclusion on that fact.
To fix or direct (the gaze, for example).
To bring to rest; halt.
Law To cease voluntarily the introduction of evidence in (a case).

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English

Related Forms:

restˈer noun

(click for a larger image)

rest¹

A. note

B. rest

noun

The part that is left over after something has been removed; remainder.
That or those remaining: The beginning was boring, but the rest was interesting. The rest are arriving later.

intransitive verb rest·ed, rest·ing, rests