1
a(1)
: toward or in a lower physical position
Don't look down.
Pull down the blind.
(2)
: to a lying or sitting position
Please sit down.
(3)
: toward or to the ground, floor, or bottom
burned the house down
fell down
b
: as a down payment
paid $10 down
c
: on paper
put down what he says
2
: in a direction that is the opposite of up: such as
a
: southward
traveled down to South Africa
b
: to or toward a point away from the speaker or the speaker's point of reference
walked down to my neighbor's house
c
: in or into the stomach
can't keep food down
3
: to a lesser degree, level, or rate
cool down tensions
Try to calm down.
4
: to or toward a lower position in a series
seems to be far down on their agenda
moved down in the pop charts
5
a
: to or in a lower or worse condition or status
students held down by a lack of social support
b
—used to indicate thoroughness or completion
dusted down the house
described him down to his haircut
6
: from a past time
stories passed down by word of mouth
7
: to or in a state of less activity or prominence
scaled down our plans
8
: to a concentrated state
got the report down to three pages
9
: into defeat
voted the motion down
: down (see down entry 1) along, around, through, toward, in, into, or on
fell down the stairs
write down the phone number
down the years
grew up down the block from each other
pacing up and down the room
downed; downing; downs
1
: to cause to go or come down (see down entry 1) : such as
a
: to cause to fall by or as if by shooting : bring down sense 1
downed the enemy helicopter
b
: consume sense 3
downing slices of pizza
2
football
: to cause (a ball) to be out of play
downed the ball at the five-yard line
3
: defeat
down a proposal
: to go down
1
a(1)
: occupying a low position
specifically
: lying on the ground
down timber
(2)
: directed or going downward
attendance is down
b
: lower in price
c
football
: not being in play because of wholly stopped progress or because the officials stop the play
The ball was down.
d
: defeated or trailing an opponent (as in points scored)
down by two runs
e
baseball
: out
two down in the top of the third inning
2
4
: completely mastered
had her lines down
—often used with patgot the answers down pat
5
a
slang
: cool sense 7
a down dude
b
slang
: understanding or supportive of something or someone
—usually used with with
trying to prove that they were down with hip-hop culture—J. E. White
6
: being on record
you're down for two tickets
1
: descent, depression
emotional ups and downs
the ups and downs of the business cycle
2
: an instance of putting down someone (such as an opponent in wrestling)
3
football
a
: a complete play to advance the ball
b
: one of a series of four attempts in American football or three attempts in Canadian football to advance the ball 10 yards
caught the ball on third down
5
: downer
1
: a covering of soft fluffy feathers
also
: these feathers
goose down pillows
2
: something soft and fluffy like down
a trace of down on his cheeks
: down syndrome
—usually used attributively
a Down baby
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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