adv.1. a. From a higher to a lower place or position: hiked down from the peak.
b. Toward, to, or on the ground, floor, or bottom: tripped and fell down.
2. In or into a sitting, kneeling, or reclining position: knelt down; lying down.
3. Toward or in the south; southward: flew down to Florida.
4. a. Away from a place considered central or a center of activity, such as a city or town: down on the farm; sent down to work at the firm's regional office.
b. Away from the present place.
5. To a specific location or source: tracking a rumor down.
6. Toward or at a low or lower point on a scale: from the biggest down to the smallest.
7. a. To or in a quiescent or subdued state: calmed down.
b. In or into an inactive or inoperative state: The generators went down at midnight.
8. To or at a lower intensity.
9. To or into a lower or inferior condition, as of subjection, defeat, or disgrace.
10. To an extreme degree; heavily: worn down by worry.
11. Seriously or vigorously: get down to the project at hand.
12. From earlier times or people: tradition handed down from one generation to the next.
13. To a reduced or concentrated form: pared the term paper down to five pages.
14. In writing; on paper: wrote the statement down.
15. In partial payment at the time of purchase: put ten dollars down on the necklace.
16. Into or toward a secure position: nailed down the boards; bolted the furniture down.
adj.1. a. Moving or directed downward: a down elevator.
b. Low or lower: Stock prices were down today.
c. Reduced; diminished: The wind is down.
2. Afflicted; sick: She's down with a bad cold.
3. Malfunctioning or not operating, especially temporarily: The computer is down.
4. Low in spirits; depressed: feeling down today.
5. a. Sports & Games Trailing an opponent: a team down 20 points in the last quarter; down two pawns in the endgame.
b. Football Not in play: The ball is down on the 50-yard line.
c. Football Not permitted to advance further in the play because forward progress has stopped, especially by being tackled. Used of a ball carrier.
d. Baseball Retired; out: two down in the last of the ninth.
6. Completed; done: three down, two to go.
7. Learned or known perfectly: had the algebra problems down.
8. Slang Having knowledge of; aware: "He was not, I detected, 'down with the revolution'" Clarence Page.
9. Slang Of high quality; excellent.
prep.1. In a descending direction along, upon, into, or through: rolled down the hill; floating down the river; went down cellar.
2. Along the course of: walking down the street.
3. In or at: The cans are stored down cellar.
v.tr.1. To bring, put, strike, or throw down: downed his opponent in the first round.
2. To swallow hastily; gulp: downed the glass of water.
3. Football To put (the ball) out of play by touching it to the ground.
Mentioned in
ne (as in ofd
- in Indo-European roots.]
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downed