down

down

down¹ [doun]

adv.

[ME doun < adune, adown < OE adune, ofdune, from the hill < a-, of-, off, from + dune, dat. of dun, hill: see DOWN³]

1. from a higher to a lower place; toward the ground

2. in, on, or to a lower position or level; specif., to a sitting or reclining position

3.

a) in or to a place thought of as lower or below; often, specif., southward [to go down to Florida]

b) out of one's hand [put it down]

4. below the horizon

5. from an earlier to a later period or person [down through the years]

6. into a low or dejected emotional condition

7. into a low or prostrate physical condition [to come down with a cold]

8. in or into an inferior position or condition [held down by harsh laws]

9. to a lower amount, value, or bulk [to come down in price]

10.

a) to a less excited or active condition; into a tranquil or quiet state [to settle down]

b) to a lower volume of sound [turn down the radio]

11. in a serious or earnest manner [to get down to work]

12. completely; to the full extent [loaded down]

13. in cash or when bought [five dollars down and the remainder in installments]

14. in writing; on record [take down his name]

adj.

1. descending; directed toward a lower position

2. in a lower place; on the ground

3. gone, brought, pulled, etc. down

4.

a) depressed; dejected

b) Slang depressing or downbeat [a down atmosphere]

5. dejected; discouraged

6. prostrate; ill

7. completed; finished [four down, six to go]

8. inoperative [the computer is down]

9. characterized by low or falling prices

10. Slang

a) a generalized term of approval meaning variously nice, good, excellent, etc.

b) sophisticated, stylish, etc.; cool; hip

11. Sports

☆ a) no longer in play: said of a football

b) trailing an opponent by a specified number of points, strokes, etc.

☆ c) Baseball put out

prep.

down or downward, along, through, into, or upon [down the street, down the chimney, down the river, down the stairs]

vt.

1.

a) to put, bring, get, throw, or knock down

b) to defeat, as in a game

2. to gulp or eat rapidly

vi.

Rare to go, come, or get down

n.

1. a downward movement or depressed condition; defeat, misfortune, etc.: see UPS AND DOWNS, at UP

☆ 2. Football

a) one of four consecutive plays in which a team, in order to keep possession of the ball, must either score or advance the ball at least ten yards

b) the declaring of the ball as down, or no longer in play

3. Slang a barbiturate or other depressant drug; downer

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☆ down and out

1. Boxing knocked out

2. lacking enough money, shelter, a job, etc.; destitute or impoverished

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down on

Informal hostile to; angry or annoyed with

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down to the ground

thoroughly; completely

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down with!

overthrow! do away with!: See also phrases under BREAK, PUT, TRACK, etc.

down² [doun]

n.

[ME doun < ON dūnn, akin to Goth dauns, fume < IE base * dheu-, to fly like dust, be turbid: see DULL]

1. soft, fluffy feathers, as the outer covering on young birds or an inner layer of feathers on adult birds

2. soft, fine hair or hairy growth

down³ [doun]

n.

[ME doun < OE dun, a hill, akin to ODu duna, LowG düne, sandhill: see DUNE]

an expanse of open, high, grassy land usually used in pl.