adverb
1.
from higher to lower; in descending direction or order; toward, into, or in a lower position: to come down the ladder.
2.
on or to the ground, floor, or bottom: He fell down.
3.
to or in a sitting or lying position.
4.
to or in a position, area, or district considered lower, especially from a geographical or cartographic standpoint, as to the south, a business district, etc.: We drove from San Francisco down to Los Angeles.
5.
to or at a lower value or rate.
6.
to a lesser pitch or volume: Turn down the radio.
7.
in or to a calmer, less active, or less prominent state: The wind died down.
8.
from an earlier to a later time: from the 17th century down to the present.
9.
from a greater to a lesser strength, amount, etc.: to water down liquor.
10.
in an attitude of earnest application: to get down to work.
11.
on paper or in a book: Write down the address.
12.
in cash at the time of purchase; at once: We paid $50 down and $20 a month.
13.
to the point of defeat, submission, inactivity, etc.: They shouted down the opposition.
14.
in or into a fixed or supine position: They tied down the struggling animal.
15.
to the source or actual position: The dogs tracked down the bear.
16.
into a condition of ill health: He's come down with a cold.
17.
in or into a lower status or condition: kept down by lack of education.
18.
Nautical. toward the lee side, so as to turn a vessel to windward: Put the helm down!
19.
Slang. on toast (as used in ordering a sandwich at a lunch counter or restaurant): Give me a tuna down.
preposition
20.
in a descending or more remote direction or place on, over, or along: They ran off down the street.
00:10
Down
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is hornswoggle. Does it mean:
| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
| to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about. |
adjective
21.
downward; going or directed downward: the down escalator.
22.
being at a low position or on the ground, floor, or bottom.
23.
toward the south, a business district, etc.
24.
associated with or serving traffic, transportation, or the like, directed toward the south, a business district, etc.: the down platform.
25.
downcast; depressed; dejected: You seem very down today.
26.
ailing, especially, sick and bedridden: He's been down with a bad cold.
27.
being the portion of the full price, as of an article bought on the installment plan, that is paid at the time of purchase or delivery: a payment of $200 down.
28.
Football. (of the ball) not in play.
29.
Slang.
a.
agreeing, supporting, or understanding: I'm totally down with that. He's down with those kids.
b.
sophisticated or hip; cool: That music is down.
30.
behind an opponent or opponents in points, games, etc.: The team won the pennant despite having been down three games in the final week of play.
31.
Baseball. out.
32.
losing or having lost the amount indicated, especially at gambling: After an hour at poker, he was down $10.
33.
having placed one's bet: Are you down for the fourth race?
34.
finished, done, considered, or taken care of: five down and one to go.
35.
out of order: The computer has been down all day.
noun
37.
a turn for the worse; reverse: The business cycle experienced a sudden down.
38.
Football.
a.
one of a series of four plays during which a team must advance the ball at least 10 yards (9 meters) to keep possession of it.
b.
the declaring of the ball as down or out of play, or the play immediately preceding this.
39.
Slang. an order of toast at a lunch counter or restaurant.
40.
verb (used with object)
41.
to put, knock, or throw down; subdue: He downed his opponent in the third round.
42.
to drink down, especially quickly or in one gulp: to down a tankard of ale.
43.
Informal. to defeat in a game or contest: The Mets downed the Dodgers in today's game.
44.
to cause to fall from a height, especially by shooting: Antiaircraft guns downed ten bombers.
verb (used without object)
45.
to go down; fall.
interjection
Idioms 46.
(used as a command to a dog to stop attacking, to stop jumping on someone, to get off a couch or chair, etc.): Down, Rover!
47.
(used as a command or warning to duck, take cover, or the like): Down! They're starting to shoot!
48.
down and out, down-and-out.
49.
down cold/pat, mastered or learned perfectly: Another hour of studying and I'll have the math lesson down cold.
50.
down in the mouth, discouraged; depressed; sad.
51.
down on, Informal. hostile or averse to: Why are you so down on sports?
52.
down with!,
a.
away with! cease!: Down with tyranny!
b.
on or toward the ground or into a lower position: Down with your rifles!
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
1.
the soft, first plumage of many young birds.
2.
the soft under plumage of birds as distinct from the contour feathers.
3.
the under plumage of some birds, as geese and ducks, used for filling in quilts, clothing, etc., chiefly for warmth.
4.
a growth of soft, fine hair or the like.
5.
Botany.
a.
a fine, soft pubescence on plants and some fruits.
b.
the light, feathery pappus or coma on seeds by which they are borne on the wind, as on the dandelion and thistle.
adjective
6.
filled with down: a down jacket.
Origin:
1325–75; Middle English downe < Old Norse dūnn
1325–75; Middle English downe < Old Norse dūnn
Related forms
down·less, adjective
down·like, adjective
noun
1.
Often, downs. (used especially in southern England) open, rolling, upland country with fairly smooth slopes usually covered with grass.
2.
( initial capital letter ) any sheep of several breeds, raised originally in the downs of southern England, as the Southdown, Suffolk, etc.
3.
Archaic. a hill, especially a sand hill or dune.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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|
Link To down
Collins
World English Dictionary
down1 (daʊn) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —prep | |
| 1. | used to indicate movement from a higher to a lower position: they went down the mountain |
| 2. | at a lower or further level or position on, in, or along: he ran down the street |
| —adv | |
| 3. | downwards; at or to a lower level or position: don't fall down |
| 4. | (particle) used with many verbs when the result of the verb's action is to lower or destroy its object: pull down; knock down; bring down |
| 5. | (particle) used with several verbs to indicate intensity or completion: calm down |
| 6. | immediately: cash down |
| 7. | on paper: write this down |
| 8. | arranged; scheduled: the meeting is down for next week |
| 9. | in a helpless position: they had him down on the ground |
| 10. | a. away from a more important place: down from London |
| b. away from a more northerly place: down from Scotland | |
| c. (of a member of some British universities) away from the university; on vacation | |
| d. in a particular part of a country: down south | |
| 11. | nautical (of a helm) having the rudder to windward |
| 12. | reduced to a state of lack or want: down to the last pound |
| 13. | lacking a specified amount: at the end of the day the cashier was ten pounds down |
| 14. | lower in price: bacon is down |
| 15. | including all intermediate terms, grades, people, etc: from managing director down to tea-lady |
| 16. | from an earlier to a later time: the heirloom was handed down |
| 17. | to a finer or more concentrated state: to grind down; boil down |
| 18. | sport being a specified number of points, goals, etc behind another competitor, team, etc: six goals down |
| 19. | (of a person) being inactive, owing to illness: down with flu |
| 20. | (functioning as imperative) (to dogs): down Rover! |
| 21. | (functioning as imperative) down with wanting the end of somebody or something: down with the king! |
| 22. | (Austral), (NZ) get down on something to procure something, esp in advance of needs or in anticipation of someone else |
| —adj | |
| 23. | (postpositive) depressed or miserable |
| 24. | (prenominal) of or relating to a train or trains from a more important place or one regarded as higher: the down line |
| 25. | (postpositive) (of a device, machine, etc, esp a computer) temporarily out of action |
| 26. | made in cash: a down payment |
| 27. | down to the responsibility or fault of: this defeat was down to me |
| 28. | informal down with |
| a. having a good understanding of: down with computers | |
| b. in agreement with: completely down with that idea | |
| c. enjoying mutual friendship and respect with: down with the kids | |
| —vb | |
| 29. | (tr) to knock, push or pull down |
| 30. | (intr) to go or come down |
| 31. | informal (tr) to drink, esp quickly: he downed three gins |
| 32. | (tr) to bring (someone) down, esp by tackling |
| —n | |
| 33. | American football one of a maximum of four consecutive attempts by one team to advance the ball a total of at least ten yards |
| 34. | a descent; downward movement |
| 35. | a lowering or a poor period (esp in the phrase ups and downs) |
| 36. | informal have a down on to bear ill will towards (someone or something) |
| [Old English dūne, short for adūne, variant of of dūne, literally: from the hill, from of, | |
| down2 (daʊn) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | the soft fine feathers with free barbs that cover the body of a bird and prevent loss of heat. In the adult they lie beneath and between the contour feathers |
| 2. | another name for eiderdown |
| 3. | botany a fine coating of soft hairs, as on certain leaves, fruits, and seeds |
| 4. | any growth or coating of soft fine hair, such as that on the human face |
| [C14: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse dūnn] | |
| Down1 (daʊn) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a district of SE Northern Ireland, in Co Down. Pop: 65 195 (2003 est). Area: 649 sq km (250 sq miles) |
| 2. | a historical county of SE Northern Ireland, on the Irish Sea: generally hilly, rising to the Mountains of Mourne: in 1973 it was replaced for administrative purposes by the districts of Ards, Banbridge, Castlereagh, Down, Newry and Mourne, North Down, and part of Lisburn. Area: 2466 sq km (952 sq miles) |
| Down2 (daʊn) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | See also Dorset Down any of various lowland breeds of sheep, typically of stocky build and having dense close wool, originating from various parts of southern England, such as Oxford, Hampshire, etc |
| 2. | another name for Hampshire Down |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
down
O.E. ofdune "downwards," from dune "from the hill," dative of dun "hill" (see down (n.2)). Used as a preposition since c.1500. Sense of "depressed mentally" is attested from c.1600. Slang sense of "aware, wide awake" is attested from 1812. Computer sense is from 1965. Down-and-out
is from 1889, Amer.Eng., from situation of a beaten prizefighter. Down home (adj.) is 1931, Amer.Eng.; down the hatch as a toast is from 1931; down to the wire is 1901, from horse-racing. Down time is from 1952. Down under "Australia and New Zealand" attested from 1886; Down East "Maine" is from 1825.
down
"soft feathers," c.1369, from O.N. dunn, perhaps ult. from PIE base *dheu- "to fly about (like dust), to whirl, shake."
down
O.E. dun "hill," from Celtic word for "hill, citadel" (cf. O.Ir. dun "hill, hill fort," and second element in place names London, Verdun, etc.), from PIE base *dheue- "to close, finish, come full circle" (cf. O.E. dun "hill," M.Du. dune "sandy hill"). Meaning "elevated rolling grassland" is from c.1300.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary
down definition
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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down (with (so)) definition
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
down definition
1. Not operating. "The up escalator is down" is considered a humorous thing to say, and "The elevator is down" always means "The elevator isn't working" and never refers to what floor the elevator is on. With respect to computers, this term has passed into the mainstream; the extension to other kinds of machine is still hackish.
2. "go down" To stop functioning; usually said of the system. The message from the console that every hacker hates to hear from the operator is "System going down in 5 minutes".
3. "take down", "bring down" To deactivate purposely, usually for repair work or PM. "I'm taking the system down to work on that bug in the tape drive." Occasionally one hears the word "down" by itself used as a verb in this sense.
See crash; opposite: up.
[Jargon File]
(1994-12-07)
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
down
In addition to the idioms beginning with down, also see back down; batten down the hatches; bear down; beat down; be down; belt down; bog down; boil down to; break down; breathe down one's neck; bring down; bring down the house; buckle down; build down; burn down; call down; cast down; caught with one's pants down; chow down; clamp down; close down; come down; come down on; come down to; come down with; cool down; cool off (down); count down; crack down; cut down; deep down; die away (down); dig down; draw down; dressing down; face down; fall down; flag down to; get down to brass tacks; go down (downhill); go down the line; hand down; hands down; hold down; it's all downhill; jump down someone's throat; keep down; knock back (down); knock down with a feather; knuckle down; lay down; lay down the law; lead down the garden path; let down easy; let one's hair down; let someone down; let the side down; lie down (on the job); live down; look down on; lowdown, get the; mark down; mow down; nail down; pin down; pipe down; play down; plunk down; pull down; put down; put down roots; put one's foot down; ram down someone's throat; ring down the curtain; rub down; run down; scale down; sell down the river; send down; set down; settle down; shake down; shoot down; shout down; shut down; simmer down; sit down; slap down; slow down; splash down; stand down; stare down; step down; strike down; suit down to the ground; take down; take down a notch; take lying down; talk down to; tear down; the lowdown on; throw down the gauntlet; thumbs up (down); tie down; tone down; touch down; track down; trade down; turn down; turn upside down; ups and downs; vote down; wash down; water down; wear down; weigh down; when it comes (down) to; when the chips are down; wind down; write down.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences from the web
These are all ways of beginning to define a work of art, to narrow it down.
Will has issues with trusting people because she is scared of being let down.
Many patients also experience symptoms when stationary or even while lying down.
For example, thirty helens agree if you have a good idea, you should write it down.
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