die
1to cease to live; undergo the complete and permanent cessation of all vital functions; become dead.
(of something inanimate) to cease to exist: The laughter died on his lips.
to lose force, strength, or active qualities: Superstitions die slowly.
to cease to function; stop: The motor died.
to be no longer subject; become indifferent: to die to worldly matters.
to pass gradually; fade or subside gradually (usually followed by away, out, or down): The storm slowly died down.
Theology. to lose spiritual life.
to faint or languish.
to suffer as if fatally: I'm dying of boredom!
to pine with desire, love, longing, etc.: I'm dying to see my home again.
to desire or want keenly or greatly: I'm dying for a cup of coffee.
die away, (of a sound) to become weaker or fainter and then cease: The hoofbeats gradually died away.
die down, to become calm or quiet; subside.
die off, to die one after another until the number is greatly reduced: Her friends are dying off.
die out,
to cease to exist; become extinct: Both lines of the family died out before the turn of the century.
to die away; fade; subside: The roar of the engines died out as the rocket vanished into the clouds.
Idioms about die
die hard,
to die only after a bitter struggle.
to give way or surrender slowly or with difficulty: Childhood beliefs die hard.
die standing up, Theater. (of a performance) to be received with silence rather than applause.
never say die, never give up hope; never abandon one's efforts.
to die for, stunning; remarkable: That dress is to die for.
Origin of die
1synonym study For die
Other words for die
Words that may be confused with die
- die , dye
Other definitions for die (2 of 2)
Machinery.
any of various devices for cutting or forming material in a press or a stamping or forging machine.
a hollow device of steel, often composed of several pieces to be fitted into a stock, for cutting the threads of bolts or the like.
one of the separate pieces of such a device.
a steel block or plate with small conical holes through which wire, plastic rods, etc., are drawn.
an engraved stamp for impressing a design upon some softer material, as in coining money.
singular of dice.
Architecture. dado (def. 1).
to impress, shape, or cut with a die.
Origin of die
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use die in a sentence
And then the pro-gun lobby gears up, the outrage dies down, and nothing ever gets done.
VA Tech Victim Speaks Out on Newtown Massacre and the Future of Gun Control | Andrew Romano | December 23, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen the sound and the fury of this election dies down, everyone should go read his book, Popular Crime.
Yet, as the scandal dies down, the press once again grows reluctant to delve any further.
And the biggest question of all: will these two lovers find that fairy-tale ending after all the hoopla dies down?
Long after national attention dies down, the oil spill will continue to have repercussions for those who live along the Gulf.
"That trade wind dies down after sunset," the devilish new mate informed him.
Captain Scraggs | Peter B. KyneIf the draughts of the stove are closed tight and no air is admitted, the fire dies down and goes out.
American Inventions and Inventors | William A. MowryAfter a calamity, when the first excitement of horror dies down, one always says, "How different everything was yesterday!"
The Incredible Honeymoon | E. NesbitStill Siegmund does not understand, and the fire dies down; he is beginning to slumber when Sieglinda enters and calls him.
Richard Wagner | John F. RuncimanThere's a fire within that keeps me alive; it burns, but never dies down.
The Sweep Winner | Nat Gould
British Dictionary definitions for die (1 of 2)
/ (daɪ) /
(of an organism or its cells, organs, etc) to cease all biological activity permanently: she died of pneumonia
(of something inanimate) to cease to exist; come to an end: the memory of her will never die
(often foll by away, down, or out) to lose strength, power, or energy, esp by degrees
(often foll by away or down) to become calm or quiet; subside: the noise slowly died down
to stop functioning: the engine died
to languish or pine, as with love, longing, etc
(usually foll by of) informal to be nearly overcome (with laughter, boredom, etc)
theol to lack spiritual life within the soul, thus separating it from God and leading to eternal punishment
(tr) to undergo or suffer (a death of a specified kind) (esp in phrases such as die a saintly death)
(foll by to) to become indifferent or apathetic (to): to die to the world
never say die informal never give up
die hard to cease to exist after resistance or a struggle: old habits die hard
die in harness to die while still working or active, prior to retirement
be dying (foll by for or an infinitive) to be eager or desperate (for something or to do something): I'm dying to see the new house
to die for informal highly desirable: a salary to die for
Origin of die
1usage For die
British Dictionary definitions for die (2 of 2)
/ (daɪ) /
a shaped block of metal or other hard material used to cut or form metal in a drop forge, press, or similar device
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
an internally-threaded tool for cutting external threads: Compare tap 2 (def. 6)
a casting mould giving accurate dimensions and a good surface to the object cast: See also die-cast
architect the dado of a pedestal, usually cubic
another name for dice (def. 2)
as straight as a die perfectly honest
the die is cast the decision that commits a person irrevocably to an action has been taken
Origin of die
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with die
In addition to the idioms beginning with die
- die away
- die down
- die for
- die hard
- die in harness
- die is cast, the
- die laughing
- die off
- die out
- die to
- die with one's boots on
also see:
- curl up (and die)
- do or die
- it's to die
- never say die
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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