die-off
[ dahy-awf, -of ]
/ ˈdaɪˌɔf, -ˌɒf /
noun
a sudden, natural perishing of large numbers of a species, population, or community.
Origin of die-off
First recorded in 1935–40; noun use of verb phrase
die off
Words nearby die-off
die to,
die with one's boots on,
die-cast,
die-cutting,
die-hard,
die-off,
dieb. alt.,
dieb. secund.,
dieb. tert.,
dieback,
diecious
Definition for die off (2 of 2)
die
1
[ dahy ]
/ daɪ /
verb (used without object), died, dy·ing.
Verb Phrases
synonym study for die
1.
Die,
pass away (
pass on;
pass ),
perish mean to relinquish life.
To die is to become dead from any cause and in any circumstances. It is the simplest, plainest, and most direct word for this idea, and is used figuratively of anything that has once displayed activity:
An echo, flame, storm, rumor dies.
Pass away (or
pass on or
pass ) is a commonly used euphemism implying a continuation of life after death:
Grandfather passed away (
passed on or
passed ).
Perish, a more literary term, implies death under harsh circumstances such as hunger, cold, neglect, etc.; figuratively,
perish connotes utter extinction:
Hardship caused many pioneers to perish. Ancient Egyptian civilization has perished.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH die
die dyeBritish Dictionary definitions for die off (1 of 2)
die
1
/ (daɪ) /
verb dies, dying or died (mainly intr)
Word Origin for die
Old English
dīegan, probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse
deyja, Old High German
touwen
usage for die
It was formerly considered incorrect to use the preposition
from after
die, but
of and
from are now both acceptable:
he died of/from his injuries
British Dictionary definitions for die off (2 of 2)
die
2
/ (daɪ) /
noun
Word Origin for die
C13
dee, from Old French
de, perhaps from Vulgar Latin
datum (unattested) a piece in games, noun use of past participle of Latin
dare to play
Medical definitions for die off
die
[ dī ]
v.
To cease living; become dead; expire.
To cease existing, especially by degrees; fade.
Scientific definitions for die off
die-off
[ dī′ôf′ ]
A sudden, severe decline in a population or community of organisms as a result of natural causes. Local die-offs can be caused by such factors as an unusual or extreme weather pattern, an outbreak of disease, or toxic algal blooms in a body of water. Widespread or global die-offs in which a species or group of species becomes extinct are generally associated with rapid climate change or other large-scale environmental dislocations.
Idioms and Phrases with die off (1 of 2)
die off
Perish one by one, as in A celibate community, the Shakers are dying off. [Late 1600s]
Idioms and Phrases with die off (2 of 2)
die