day (deɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) |
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| —n |
| 1. | Also called: civil day the period of time, the calendar day, of 24 hours' duration reckoned from one midnight to the next |
| 2. | a. the period of light between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from the night |
| | b. (as modifier): the day shift |
| 3. | the part of a day occupied with regular activity, esp work: he took a day off |
| 4. | (sometimes plural) a period or point in time: he was a good singer in his day; in days gone by; any day now |
| 5. | the period of time, the sidereal day, during which the earth makes one complete revolution on its axis relative to a particular star. The mean sidereal day lasts 23 hours 56 minutes 4.1 seconds of the mean solar day |
| 6. | the period of time, the solar day, during which the earth makes one complete revolution on its axis relative to the sun. The mean solar day is the average length of the apparent solar day and is some four minutes (3 minutes 56.5 seconds of sidereal time) longer than the sidereal day |
| 7. | the period of time taken by a specified planet to make one complete rotation on its axis: the Martian day |
| 8. | (often capital) a day designated for a special observance, esp a holiday: Christmas Day |
| 9. | all in a day's work part of one's normal activity; no trouble |
| 10. | at the end of the day in the final reckoning |
| 11. | day of rest the Sabbath; Sunday |
| 12. | end one's days to pass the end of one's life |
| 13. | every dog has his day one's luck will come |
| 14. | in this day and age nowadays |
| 15. | it's early days it's too early to tell how things will turn out |
| 16. | late in the day |
| | a. very late (in a particular situation) |
| | b. too late |
| 17. | that will be the day |
| | a. I look forward to that |
| | b. that is most unlikely to happen |
| 18. | a time of success, recognition, power, etc: his day will soon come |
| 19. | a struggle or issue at hand: the day is lost |
| 20. | a. the ground surface over a mine |
| | b. (as modifier): the day level |
| 21. | from day to day without thinking of the future |
| 22. | call it a day to stop work or other activity |
| 23. | day after day without respite; relentlessly |
| 24. | day by day gradually or progressively; daily: he weakened day by day |
| 25. | day in, day out every day and all day long |
| 26. | from Day 1, from Day One from the very beginning |
| 27. | one of these days at some future time |
| 28. | (modifier) of, relating to, or occurring in the day: the day shift |
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| Related: diurnal |
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| [Old English dæg; related to Old High German tag, Old Norse dagr] |