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sleeper Definition

sleeper (slē′pər)

noun

  1. a person or animal that sleeps, esp. as specified a sound sleeper
  2. a timber or beam laid horizontally, as on the ground, to support something above it
  3. Chiefly Brit. a tie supporting a railroad track
  4. ☆ sleeping car
  5. ☆ a previously disregarded person or thing that unexpectedly achieves success, assumes importance, etc.
  6. Slang mole (sense )
  7. ☆
    1. a kind of pajamas for infants and young children, that enclose the feet
    2. bunting (sense )
  8. ☆ Bowling a pin concealed by one in front of it, in bowling for a spare

Etymology: ME slepere < OE slæpere

sleeper Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • awaken: The day that followed the wreck was well advanced before the sleepers awakened.
  • rot: The condition of the remaining track varies from quite good, some relatively new on concrete sleepers to worn out on rotted wooden sleepers.
  • lay: The job involves laying sleepers out on the ground, placing chairs on top of the sleepers, followed by screwing in bolts.

Adjective modifier

  • rough: The shelter door opened to rough sleepers at 8.00pm to 8.00am for the first time on 15th March.
  • Caledonian: For details see Caledonian Sleepers or call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950.
  • rotten: This keeps this section in tip top condition with no rotten sleepers.
  • concrete: The new concrete sleepers can be seen laid out to the left of the photo.
  • overnight: We then continue our journey on the overnight sleeper to Delhi, arriving early morning.
  • wooden: In 1876 the railroad was rebuilt on a new course with steel rails laid on wooden sleepers.

Modifies a noun

  • sofa: There is an additional sleeper sofa in the living area for further guests.
  • bunk: Bedroom 2: A large bedroom with triple sleeper bunk bed; double bed on bottom, single on top.
  • cab: You can have any cab: The power range associated with the R sleeper cabs includes all engines from 310 to 620 hp.
  • berth: Use of showers for sleeper berth customers upon arrival at London Paddington.
  • compartment: Overnight train travel is in 4 berth soft sleeper compartments or first class on day journeys.
  • train: Sleeper train Day 15 On arrival in Delhi we transfer to our hotel.

Noun used with modifier

  • softwood: The pull-out force required to remove the screw spikes is similar for both the recycled plastic and softwood sleepers.
  • railroad: Railroad sleepers can be carried using metal pins pushed through existing holes in the sleeper.
  • O: I order you, O sleeper, to awake.
  • sofa: Studio Suites have 1 queen-sized bed & a pullout sofa sleeper.
  • timber: The rails were mounted on either stone blocks or timber sleepers.
sleeper Quotes

The function of the artist is to disturb. His duty is to arousethesleeper, toshakethe complacent pillars ofthe world.He reminds the world of its dark ancestry, and shows the world its present, and points the way to its new birth.He isat oncetheproduct and thepreceptorof his time.

—Bethune, Norman

O me, why have they not buried me deep enough? Is it kind to have made me a grave so rough, Me, that was never a quiet sleeper?

—Tennyson