Search results for 'down':

down¹ adverb 1 towards or in a low or lower position, level or state; on or to the ground. 2 from a greater to a lesser size, amount or level • scaled down • calm down. 3 towards or in a more southerly place. 4 in writing; on paper • take down notes. 5 as a deposit • put down five pounds. 6 to an end stage or finished state • hunt someone down • grind down. 7 from earlier to later times • handed down through generations. 8 to a state of exhaustion, defeat, etc • worn down by illness. 9 not vomited up • keep food down. 10 in a crossword: in the vertical direction • 5 down. Compare across (adverb 10). prep 1 in a lower position on something. 2 along; at a further position on, by or through • down the road. 3 along in the direction of the current of a river. 4 from the top to or towards the bottom. 5 dialect to or in (a particular place) • going down the town. adj 1 sad; in low spirits. 2 going towards or reaching a lower position • a down pipe. 3 made as a deposit • a down payment. 4 reduced in price. 5 said of a computer, etc: out of action, especially temporarily. verb (downed, downing) 1 to drink something quickly, especially in one gulp. 2 to force someone to the ground. exclamation used as a command to animals, especially dogs: get or stay down. noun 1 an unsuccessful or otherwise unpleasant period • Life has its ups and downs. 2 (downs) an area of rolling (especially treeless) hills, especially the Downs in southern England. down by with a deficit (of something specified) • down by three goals. down for noted; entered in a list, etc • Your name is down for the hurdles. down in the mouth depressed. down on one's luck in unfortunate circumstances; in a bad way. down to the ground colloq completely; perfectly. down tools colloq to stop working, as a protest. down under colloq in or to Australia and/or New Zealand. down with ...! let us get rid of ...! have a down on someone colloq to be ill-disposed towards them. up and down 1 to and fro. 2 alternately well and ill.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon of dune from the hill.

down² noun soft fine feathers or hair.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: from Norse dunn.