- death
- [[t]de̱θ[/t]]
♦♦deaths1) N-VAR Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
1.5 million people are in immediate danger of death from starvation.
...the thirtieth anniversary of her death...
The report mentions the death of 18 people in suspicious circumstances...
They were told only that there had been a death in the family.
Ant:birth, life2) N-COUNT: with supp A particular kind of death is a particular way of dying.They made sure that he died a horrible death...
He would rather have a decent death which served some purpose than a meaningless death.
3) N-SING: usu the N of n The death of something is the permanent end of it.It meant the death of everything he had ever been or ever hoped to be.
...the death of pop music.
Syn:4) PHRASE: v-link PHR If you say that someone is at death's door, you mean they are very ill indeed and likely to die. [INFORMAL]He told his boss a tale about his mother being at death's door...
My dad was the same. He could be at death's door but wouldn't say a word.
5) PHRASE: V inflects (emphasis) If you say that you will fight to the death for something, you are emphasizing that you will do anything to achieve or protect it, even if you suffer as a consequence.He said they did not want war - but if attacked they would fight to the death...
She'd have fought to the death for that child.
6) PHRASE (emphasis) If you refer to a fight or contest as a fight to the death, you are emphasizing that it will not stop until the death or total victory of one of the opponents....an eleven-hour fight to the death between a baboon and leopard...
He now faces a fight to the death to reach the quarter-finals.
7) PHRASE: n of PHR, PHR n (emphasis) If you say that something is a matter of life and death, you are emphasizing that it is extremely important, often because someone may die or suffer great harm if people do not act immediately.Well, never mind, John, it's not a matter of life and death...
We're dealing with a life-and-death situation here...
It is only a hobby, not a life or death struggle.
8) PHRASE: V inflects If someone is put to death, they are executed. [FORMAL]Those put to death by firing squad included three generals.
9) PHRASE: PHR after v You use to death after a verb to indicate that a particular action or process results in someone's death.He was stabbed to death.
...relief missions to try to keep the country's population from starving to death...
He almost bled to death after the bullet severed an artery.
10) PHRASE: adj PHR, PHR after v (emphasis) You use to death after an adjective or a verb to emphasize the action, state, or feeling mentioned. For example, if you are frightened to death or bored to death, you are extremely frightened or bored.He scares teams to death with his pace and power...
Whereas 10 years ago I would have worried myself to death about it, now I accept it is part of the game...
I went out last night, but not for very long. I was bored to death.
11) PHRASE: V inflects (emphasis) If you say that someone works another person to death, you are emphasizing that they make them work very hard indeed, especially in a way that seems cruel or unfair.They worked themselves to death but never lost their humour.
English dictionary. 2008.
