down
[1]
prep
1 used to indicate movement from a higher to a lower position
they went down the mountain
2 at a lower or further level or position on, in, or along
he ran down the street
adv
3 downwards; at or to a lower level or position
don't fall down
4 particle used with many verbs when the result of the verb's action is to lower or destroy its object
pull down, knock down, bring down
5 particle used with several verbs to indicate intensity or completion
calm down
7 on paper
write this down
8 arranged; scheduled
the meeting is down for next week
9 in a helpless position
they had him down on the ground
a away from a more important place
down from London
b away from a more northerly place
down from Scotland
c (of a member of some British universities) away from the university; on vacation
d in a particular part of a country
down south
11 (Nautical) (of a helm) having the rudder to windward
12 reduced to a state of lack or want
down to the last pound
13 lacking a specified amount
at the end of the day the cashier was ten pounds down
14 lower in price
bacon is down
15 including all intermediate terms, grades, people, etc.
from managing director down to tea-lady
16 from an earlier to a later time
the heirloom was handed down
17 to a finer or more concentrated state
to grind down, boil down
18 (Sport) being a specified number of points, goals, etc. behind another competitor, team, etc.
six goals down
19 (of a person) being inactive, owing to illness
down with flu
20 functioning as imperative (to dogs)
down Rover!
21 functioning as imperative
♦
down with wanting the end of somebody or something
down with the king!
22 ♦
get down on something (Austral. and N.Z.) to procure something, esp. in advance of needs or in anticipation of someone else
adj
23 postpositive depressed or miserable
24 prenominal of or relating to a train or trains from a more important place or one regarded as higher
the down line
25 postpositive (of a device, machine, etc., esp. a computer) temporarily out of action
26 made in cash
a down payment
27 ♦
down to the responsibility or fault of
this defeat was down to me
vb
28 tr to knock, push or pull down
29 intr to go or come down
30 tr
Informal to drink, esp. quickly
he downed three gins
31 tr to bring (someone) down, esp. by tackling
n
32 (American football) one of a maximum of four consecutive attempts by one team to advance the ball a total of at least ten yards
33 a descent; downward movement
34 a lowering or a poor period (esp. in the phrase ups and downs)
35 ♦
have a down on
Informal to bear ill will towards (someone or something)
(Old English dune, short for adune, variant of of dune, literally: from the hill, from of, off + dun hill; see down3)