die down

die

1 [dahy]
verb (used without object), died, dy·ing.
1.
to cease to live; undergo the complete and permanent cessation of all vital functions; become dead.
2.
(of something inanimate) to cease to exist: The laughter died on his lips.
3.
to lose force, strength, or active qualities: Superstitions die slowly.
4.
to cease to function; stop: The motor died.
5.
to be no longer subject; become indifferent: to die to worldly matters.
6.
to pass gradually; fade or subside gradually (usually followed by away, out, or down ): The storm slowly died down.
7.
Theology. to lose spiritual life.
8.
to faint or languish.
9.
to suffer as if fatally: I'm dying of boredom!
10.
to pine with desire, love, longing, etc.: I'm dying to see my home again.
11.
to desire or want keenly or greatly: I'm dying for a cup of coffee.
Verb phrases
12.
die away, (of a sound) to become weaker or fainter and then cease: The hoofbeats gradually died away.
13.
die down, to become calm or quiet; subside.
14.
die off, to die one after another until the number is greatly reduced: Her friends are dying off.
15.
die out,
a.
to cease to exist; become extinct: Both lines of the family died out before the turn of the century.
b.
to die away; fade; subside: The roar of the engines died out as the rocket vanished into the clouds.
00:10
Die down is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Idioms
16.
die hard,
a.
to die only after a bitter struggle.
b.
to give way or surrender slowly or with difficulty: Childhood beliefs die hard.
17.
die standing up, Theater. (of a performance) to be received with silence rather than applause.
18.
never say die, never give up hope; never abandon one's efforts.
19.
to die for, stunning; remarkable: That dress is to die for.
Origin:
1150–1200; Middle English dien, deien < Old Norse deyja. Cf. dead, death

Synonyms
1. expire, depart. Die, pass away ( pass on ), perish mean to relinquish life. To die is to become dead from any cause and in any circumstances. It is the simplest, plainest, and most direct word for this idea, and is used figuratively of anything that has once displayed activity: An echo, flame, storm, rumor dies. Pass away (or pass on ) is a commonly used euphemism implying a con-tinuation of life after death: Grandfather passed away ( passed on ). Perish a more literary term, implies death under harsh circumstances such as hunger, cold, neglect, etc.; figuratively, perish connotes utter extinction: Hardship caused many pioneers to perish. Ancient Egyptian civilization has perished.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To die down
Collins
World English Dictionary
die1 (daɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb (often foll by away, down, or out) (often foll by away or down) (foll by for or an infinitive) , dies, dying, died
1.  (of an organism or its cells, organs, etc) to cease all biological activity permanently: she died of pneumonia
2.  (of something inanimate) to cease to exist; come to an end: the memory of her will never die
3.  to lose strength, power, or energy, esp by degrees
4.  to become calm or quiet; subside: the noise slowly died down
5.  to stop functioning: the engine died
6.  to languish or pine, as with love, longing, etc
7.  informal (usually foll by of) to be nearly overcome (with laughter, boredom, etc)
8.  theol to lack spiritual life within the soul, thus separating it from God and leading to eternal punishment
9.  (tr) to undergo or suffer (a death of a specified kind) (esp in phrases such as die a saintly death)
10.  (foll by to) to become indifferent or apathetic (to): to die to the world
11.  informal never say die never give up
12.  die hard to cease to exist after resistance or a struggle: old habits die hard
13.  die in harness to die while still working or active, prior to retirement
14.  be dying to be eager or desperate (for something or to do something): I'm dying to see the new house
15.  informal to die for highly desirable: a salary to die for
 
usage  It was formerly considered incorrect to use the preposition from after die, but of and from are now both acceptable: he died of/from his injuries

die2 (daɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  a.  a shaped block of metal or other hard material used to cut or form metal in a drop forge, press, or similar device
 b.  a tool of metal, silicon carbide, or other hard material with a conical hole through which wires, rods, or tubes are drawn to reduce their diameter
2.  Compare tap an internally-threaded tool for cutting external threads
3.  See also die-cast a casting mould giving accurate dimensions and a good surface to the object cast
4.  architect the dado of a pedestal, usually cubic
5.  another name for dice
6.  as straight as a die perfectly honest
7.  the die is cast the decision that commits a person irrevocably to an action has been taken
 
[C13 dee, from Old French de, perhaps from Vulgar Latin datum (unattested) a piece in games, noun use of past participle of Latin dare to play]

die down
 
—vb
1.  (of some perennial plants) to wither and die above ground, leaving only the root alive during the winter
2.  to lose strength or power, esp by degrees
3.  to become calm or quiet

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

die
mid-12c., possibly from O.Dan. døja or O.N. deyja "to die, pass away," both from P.Gmc. *dawjanan, from PIE base *dheu- "to pass away, become senseless." It has been speculated that O.E. had *diegan, from the same source, but it is not in any of the surviving texts and the preferred words were
steorfan (see starve), sweltan (see swelter), wesan dead, also forðgan and other euphemisms. Languages usually don't borrow words from abroad for central life experiences, but "die" words are an exception, since they are often hidden or changed euphemistically out of superstitious dread. A Du. euphemism translates as "to give the pipe to Maarten." Regularly spelled dege through 15c., and still pronounced "dee" by some in Lancashire and Scotland. Used figuratively (of sounds, etc.) from 1580s. Related: Died; dies.

die
early 14c. (as a plural), from O.Fr. de, of uncertain origin, perhaps from L. datum "given," pp. of dare (see date (1)), which, in addition to "give," had a secondary sense of "to play" (as a chess piece); or else from "what is given" (by chance or Fortune). Sense of "stamping
block or tool" first recorded 1690s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

die (dī)
v. died, dy·ing (dī'ĭng), dies

  1. To cease living; become dead; expire.

  2. To cease existing, especially by degrees; fade.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

die definition


  1. in.
    to “perish” (figuratively) from laughter or some other emotionally intense response. : The whole audience died laughing.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

die down

see die away.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriHome Advisor
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT