down: Meaning and Definition of

down

Pronunciation: (doun), [key]
— adv.
  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, esp. 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. toward the lee side, so as to turn a vessel to windward: Put the helm down!
  19. on toast (as used in ordering a sandwich at a lunch counter or restaurant): Give me a tuna down.
  20. Down with tyranny!
    1. away with! cease!:Down with tyranny!
    2. on or toward the ground or into a lower position:Down with your rifles!
—prep.
  1. in a descending or more remote direction or place on, over, or along: They ran off down the street.
—adj.
  1. downward; going or directed downward: the down escalator.
  2. being at a low position or on the ground, floor, or bottom.
  3. toward the south, a business district, etc.
  4. associated with or serving traffic, transportation, or the like, directed toward the south, a business district, etc.: the down platform.
  5. downcast; depressed; dejected: You seem very down today.
  6. ailing, esp., sick and bedridden: He's been down with a bad cold.
  7. 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.
  8. (of the ball) not in play.
  9. 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.
  10. out.
  11. losing or having lost the amount indicated, esp. at gambling: After an hour at poker, he was down $10.
  12. having placed one's bet: Are you down for the fourth race?
  13. finished, done, considered, or taken care of: five down and one to go.
  14. out of order: The computer has been down all day.
  15. down-and-out.
  16. mastered or learned perfectly: Another hour of studying and I'll have the math lesson down cold.
  17. discouraged; depressed; sad.
  18. hostile or averse to: Why are you so down on sports?
—n.
  1. a downward movement; descent.
  2. a turn for the worse; reverse: The business cycle experienced a sudden down.
    1. one of a series of four plays during which a team must advance the ball at least 10 yd. (9 m) to keep possession of it.
    2. the declaring of the ball as down or out of play, or the play immediately preceding this.
  3. an order of toast at a lunch counter or restaurant.
  4. downer (defs. 1a, b).
—v.t.
  1. to put, knock, or throw down; subdue: He downed his opponent in the third round.
  2. to drink down, esp. quickly or in one gulp: to down a tankard of ale.
  3. to defeat in a game or contest: The Mets downed the Dodgers in today's game.
  4. to cause to fall from a height, esp. by shooting: Antiaircraft guns downed ten bombers.
—v.i.
  1. to go down; fall.
—interj.
  1. (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!
  2. (used as a command or warning to duck, take cover, or the like): Down! They're starting to shoot!

down

Pronunciation: (doun), [key]
— n.
  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.
    1. a fine, soft pubescence on plants and some fruits.
    2. the light, feathery pappus or coma on seeds by which they are borne on the wind, as on the dandelion and thistle.
—adj.
  1. filled with down: a down jacket.

down

Pronunciation: (doun), [key]
— n.
  1. Often,(used esp. in southern England) open, rolling, upland country with fairly smooth slopes usually covered with grass.
  2. (cap.) any sheep of several breeds, raised originally in the downs of southern England, as the Southdown, Suffolk, etc.
  3. a hill, esp. a sand hill or dune.

Down

Pronunciation: (doun), [key]
— n.
  1. a county in SW Northern Ireland. 311,876; 952 sq. mi. (2466 sq. km). Co. seat: Downpatrick.
  2. an administrative district in this county. 49,500; 253 sq. mi. (654 sq. km).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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