Idioms for down
Origin of down
1OTHER WORDS FROM down
un·downed, adjectiveWords nearby down
dowie,
dowitcher,
dowland,
dowlas,
dowly,
down,
down and dirty,
down and out,
down card,
down cold, have,
down east
Definition for down (2 of 4)
down
2
[ doun ]
/ daʊn /
noun
the soft, first plumage of many young birds.
the soft under plumage of birds as distinct from the contour feathers.
the under plumage of some birds, as geese and ducks, used for filling in quilts, clothing, etc., chiefly for warmth.
a growth of soft, fine hair or the like.
Botany.
- a fine, soft pubescence on plants and some fruits.
- the light, feathery pappus or coma on seeds by which they are borne on the wind, as on the dandelion and thistle.
adjective
filled with down: a down jacket.
Origin of down
2
1325–75; Middle English
downe < Old Norse
dūnn
OTHER WORDS FROM down
down·less, adjective down·like, adjectiveDefinition for down (3 of 4)
down
3
[ doun ]
/ daʊn /
noun
Often downs.
(used especially in southern England) open, rolling, upland country with fairly smooth slopes usually covered with grass.
(initial capital letter)
any sheep of several breeds, raised originally in the downs of southern England, as the Southdown, Suffolk, etc.
Archaic.
a hill, especially a sand hill or dune.
Definition for down (4 of 4)
Down
[ doun ]
/ daʊn /
noun
a county in SW Northern Ireland. 952 sq. mi. (2466 sq. km). County seat: Downpatrick.
an administrative district in this county. 253 sq. mi. (654 sq. km).
Example sentences from the Web for down
British Dictionary definitions for down (1 of 5)
Word Origin for down
Old English
dūne, short for
adūne, variant of
of dūne, literally: from the hill, from
of,
off +
dūn hill; see
down
3
British Dictionary definitions for down (2 of 5)
down
2
/ (daʊn) /
noun
the soft fine feathers with free barbs that cover the body of a bird and prevent loss of heat. In the adult they lie beneath and between the contour feathers
another name for eiderdown (def. 1)
botany
a fine coating of soft hairs, as on certain leaves, fruits, and seeds
any growth or coating of soft fine hair, such as that on the human face
Word Origin for down
C14: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse
dūnn
British Dictionary definitions for down (3 of 5)
Word Origin for down
Old English
dūn; related to Old Frisian
dūne, Old Saxon
dūna hill, Old Irish
dūn fortress, Greek
this sandbank; see
dune,
town
British Dictionary definitions for down (4 of 5)
Down
1
/ (daʊn) /
noun
a district of SE Northern Ireland, in Co Down. Pop: 65 195 (2003 est). Area: 649 sq km (250 sq miles)
a historical county of SE Northern Ireland, on the Irish Sea: generally hilly, rising to the Mountains of Mourne: in 1973 it was replaced for administrative purposes by the districts of Ards, Banbridge, Castlereagh, Down, Newry and Mourne, North Down, and part of Lisburn. Area: 2466 sq km (952 sq miles)
British Dictionary definitions for down (5 of 5)
Down
2
/ (daʊn) /
noun
any of various lowland breeds of sheep, typically of stocky build and having dense close wool, originating from various parts of southern England, such as Oxford, Hampshire, etc
See also Dorset Down
another name for Hampshire Down
Idioms and Phrases with down
down