die 1 (d )intr.v. died, dy·ing (d  ng), dies 1. To cease living; become dead; expire. 2. To cease existing, especially by degrees; fade: The sunlight died in the west. 3. To experience an agony or suffering suggestive of that of death: nearly died of embarrassment. 4. Informal To desire something greatly: I am dying for a box of chocolates. She was dying to see the exhibit. 5. a. To cease operation; stop: If your vehicle dies, stay with it. b. To be destroyed, as in combat: could see the remains of two aircraft that had died in the attack. 6. To become indifferent: had died to all worldly concerns. Phrasal Verbs: die back Botany To be affected by dieback. die down To lose strength; subside: The winds died down. die off To undergo a sudden, sharp decline in population: Rabbits were dying off in that county. die out To cease living completely; become extinct: tribes and tribal customs that died out centuries ago. Idioms: die hard1. To take a long time in passing out of existence: racial prejudices that die hard. 2. To resist against overwhelming, hopeless odds: radicalism that dies hard. die on the vine To fail, as from lack of support, especially at an early stage: a plan that died on the vine. to die for Informal Remarkable or highly desirable.
[Middle English dien, probably from Old Norse deyja; see dheu-2 in Indo-European roots.] |
die 2 (d )n. pl. dies or dice (d s) 1. pl. dies A device used for cutting out, forming, or stamping material, especially: a. An engraved metal piece used for impressing a design onto a softer metal, as in coining money. b. One of several component pieces that are fitted into a diestock to cut threads on screws or bolts. c. A part on a machine that punches shaped holes in, cuts, or forms sheet metal, cardboard, or other stock. d. A metal block containing small conical holes through which plastic, metal, or other ductile material is extruded or drawn. 2. pl. dies Architecture The dado of a pedestal, especially when cube-shaped. 3. pl. dice a. A small cube marked on each side with from one to six dots, usually used in pairs in gambling and in various other games. b. dice (used with a sing. verb) A game of chance using dice. tr.v. died, die·ing, dies To cut, form, or stamp with or as if with a die. Idioms: load the dice1. To make an outcome highly probable; predetermine a result: "These factors merely load the dice, upping the odds that a household will fall into a certain . . . income distribution" (Thomas G. Exter). 2. To put another at a distinct disadvantage, as through prior maneuver: The dice were loaded against the defendant before the trial. no dice1. Of no use; futile. 2. Used as a refusal to a request. the die is cast The decision has been made and is irrevocable.
[Middle English de, gaming die, from Old French, from Latin datum, given, from neuter past participle of dare, to give; see d - in Indo-European roots.] |
die downvb (intr, adverb)1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Horticulture) (of some perennial plants) to wither and die above ground, leaving only the root alive during the winter 2. to lose strength or power, esp by degrees 3. to become calm or quiet
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Verb | 1. | die down - suffer from a disease that kills shoots; "The plants near the garage are dying back" | | 2. | die down - become progressively weaker; "the laughter died down"weaken - become weaker; "The prisoner's resistance weakened after seven days" |
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