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die back - 1 dictionary result
die 1   (dī)   
intr.v.   died, dy·ing (dī'ĭng), dies
  1. To cease living; become dead; expire.
  2. To cease existing, especially by degrees; fade: The sunlight died in the west.
  3. To experience an agony or suffering suggestive of that of death: nearly died of embarrassment.
  4. Informal To desire something greatly: I am dying for a box of chocolates. She was dying to see the exhibit.
    1. To cease operation; stop: If your vehicle dies, stay with it.
    2. To be destroyed, as in combat: could see the remains of two aircraft that had died in the attack.
  6. To become indifferent: had died to all worldly concerns.
Phrasal Verb(s):
die back Botany To be affected by dieback.
die downTo lose strength; subside: The winds died down.
die offTo undergo a sudden, sharp decline in population: Rabbits were dying off in that county.
die outTo cease living completely; become extinct: tribes and tribal customs that died out centuries ago.

Idiom(s):
die hard
  1. To take a long time in passing out of existence: racial prejudices that die hard.
  2. To resist against overwhelming, hopeless odds: radicalism that dies hard.

Idiom(s):
die on the vineTo fail, as from lack of support, especially at an early stage: a plan that died on the vine.

Idiom(s):
to die for Informal Remarkable or highly desirable.

[Middle English dien, probably from Old Norse deyja; see dheu-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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