mortal
mor|tal /m'ɔːrtəl/ (mortals)
1 [ADJ]
If you refer to the fact that people are mortal, you mean that they have to die and cannot live for ever.
A man is deliberately designed to be mortal. He grows, he ages, and he dies.
≠ immortal
● mortality [N-UNCOUNT] usu poss N
She has suddenly come face to face with her own mortality.
2 [N-COUNT]
You can describe someone as a mortal when you want to say that they are an ordinary person.
Tickets seem unobtainable to the ordinary mortal.
= human
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
You can use mortal to show that something is very serious or may cause death.
The police were defending themselves and others against mortal danger...
● mortally [ADV] usu ADV -ed/adj/adv
He falls, mortally wounded.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
You can use mortal to emphasize that a feeling is extremely great or severe.
When self-esteem is high, we lose our mortal fear of jealousy.
● mortally [ADV] ADV -ed/adj/adv
Candida admits to having been `mortally embarrassed'.mor|tal sin (mortal sins)
[N-VAR]
In the Roman Catholic Church, a mortal sin is an extremely serious sin and the person who has committed it will be punished after death unless they are forgiven by the Church.
1 [ADJ]
If you refer to the fact that people are mortal, you mean that they have to die and cannot live for ever.
A man is deliberately designed to be mortal. He grows, he ages, and he dies.
≠ immortal
● mortality [N-UNCOUNT] usu poss N
She has suddenly come face to face with her own mortality.
2 [N-COUNT]
You can describe someone as a mortal when you want to say that they are an ordinary person.
Tickets seem unobtainable to the ordinary mortal.
= human
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
You can use mortal to show that something is very serious or may cause death.
The police were defending themselves and others against mortal danger...
● mortally [ADV] usu ADV -ed/adj/adv
He falls, mortally wounded.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
You can use mortal to emphasize that a feeling is extremely great or severe.
When self-esteem is high, we lose our mortal fear of jealousy.
● mortally [ADV] ADV -ed/adj/adv
Candida admits to having been `mortally embarrassed'.mor|tal sin (mortal sins)
[N-VAR]
In the Roman Catholic Church, a mortal sin is an extremely serious sin and the person who has committed it will be punished after death unless they are forgiven by the Church.