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sleep definition

sleep (slēp)

noun

    1. a natural, regularly recurring condition of rest for the body and mind, during which the eyes are usually closed and there is little or no conscious thought or voluntary movement, but there is intermittent dreaming
    2. a spell of sleeping
  2. any state of inactivity thought of as like sleep, as death, unconsciousness, hibernation, etc.
  3. Bot. nyctitropism

Etymology: ME slep < OE slæp, akin to Ger schlaf, sleep, schlaff, loose, lax < IE *slab < base *(s)leb-, *(s)lab-, loose, slack > lip, limp, L labor, to slip, sink

intransitive verb slept, sleeping sleep′·ing

  1. to be in the state of sleep; slumber
  2. to be in a state of inactivity like sleep, as that of death, quiescence, hibernation, inattention, etc.
  3. Informal to have sexual intercourse (with)
  4. Informal to postpone a decision (on) to allow time for deliberation let me sleep on it
  5. Bot. to assume a nyctitropic position at night, as petals or leaves

transitive verb

  1. to slumber in (a specified kind of sleep) to sleep the sleep of the just
  2. to provide sleeping accommodations for a boat that sleeps four
sleep Idioms

last sleep

death

sleep around

Informal to have promiscuous sexual relations

sleep away

  1. to spend in sleeping; sleep during
  2. to get rid of by sleeping

sleep in

  1. to sleep at the place where one is employed as a household servant
  2. to sleep later in the morning than one usually does

sleep it off

to rid oneself of the effects of some excess, overindulgence, etc., specif. of the aftereffects of drinking much alcoholic liquor, by sleeping

sleep off

to rid oneself of by sleeping

sleep out

  1. to spend in sleeping; sleep throughout
  2. to sleep outdoors

sleep over

Informal to spend the night at another's home

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms sleep idiom

medical sleep definition - medical

sleep Synonyms

sleep

n.

slumber, doze, nap, rest, repose, sound sleep, deep sleep, nod, siesta, catnap, dream, hibernation, dormancy, Morpheus, the Sandman, snooze*, shut-eye*, the down*.


sleep

v.

slumber, doze, drowse, rest, nap, snooze, hibernate, dream, snore, nod, yawn, languish, flag, relax, go to bed, rest in the arms of Morpheus, drop asleep, fall asleep, lose oneself in slumber, take forty winks*, catnap*, turn in*, go rockaby*, hit the hay*, hit the sack*, saw logs*, sack up*, sack out*, catch a wink*, roll in*.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

sleep Usage Examples

Preposition: on

  • couch: I should probably sleep on the couch, but that infuriates him to no end.

Converse of object

  • disturb: Pain is something that often disturb sleep especially as we get older.

Adjective modifier

  • restful: They are designed to give your baby the best in safe, comfortable and restful sleep.

Modifies a noun

  • apnea: Amanda wants to know: What are the signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea?

Adjective complement

  • 4+2: The apartments are Casetta Dei Mei sleeps 2+2, Don Aldo Mei sleeps 4+2, Assunta sleeps 4+2.

Preposition: in

  • hammock: We got a new tent and a hammock, I like to sleep in the hammock on my own.
sleep usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

sleep quotes

People would rather sleep their way through life than stayawake for it.

-Albee, Edward Franklin, III

Never play cards with a man called Doc. Never eat at a place called Mom's. And never, ever, nomatter whatelse you do in your whole life, never sleep with anyone whose troubles are worse than your own.

-Algren, Nelson

The lion and the calf shall lie down together but the calf won't get much sleep.

-Allen,Woody pseudonym of  Allen Stewart Konigsberg

sleep quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"sleep." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/sleep>

APA Style

sleep. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/sleep

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