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downer

 - 6 dictionary results

down⋅er

  [dou-ner]
Use downer in a Sentence
–noun
1. Informal.
a. a depressant or sedative drug, esp. a barbiturate.
b. a depressing experience, person, or situation.
2. Animal Husbandry. an old or diseased animal, esp. one that cannot stand up.
Origin:
1910–15, Americanism, for an earlier sense; 1965–70, for def. 1; down 1 + -er 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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down·er   (dou'nər)   
n.   Slang

  1. A depressant or sedative drug, such as a barbiturate or tranquilizer.

  2. One that depresses, such as an experience or person.

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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Slang Dictionary
downer

and down; downie
  1. n.
    a barbiturate or a tranquilizer. (Drugs.) : Too much booze with those downers, and you're dead.
  2. n.
    a bad drug experience; a down trip. (Drugs.) : That stuff you gave me was a real downer.
  3. n.
    a depressing event; a bad situation; a down trip. : These cloudy days are always downers.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

downer 
1966 in sense of "barbiturate;" 1970 in sense of "depressing person." From down (adv.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: down·er
Pronunciation: 'dau-n&r
Function: noun
: a depressant drug; especially : BARBITURATE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

downer down·er (dou'nər)
n.
A depressant or sedative drug, such as a barbiturate or tranquilizer.

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