death
♦♦ death /d'eθ/ (deaths)
1 [N-VAR]
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
1.5 million people are in immediate danger of death from starvation.
...the thirtieth anniversary of her death...
There had been a death in the family...
He almost bled to death after a bullet severed an artery.
≠ birth, life
2 [N-COUNT] with supp
A particular kind of death is a particular way of dying.
They made sure that he died a horrible death...
3 [N-SING] usu the N of n
The death of something is the permanent end of it.
It meant the death of everything he had ever been or ever hoped to be.
= end
4 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you say that someone is at death's door, you mean they are very ill indeed and likely to die. (INFORMAL)
He told his boss a tale about his mother being at death's door...
5 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that you will fight to the death for something, you are emphasizing that you will do anything to achieve or protect it, even if you suffer as a consequence.
She'd have fought to the death for that child.
6 [PHRASE]
If you refer to a fight or contest as a fight to the death, you are emphasizing that it will not stop until the death or total victory of one of the opponents.
He now faces a fight to the death to reach the quarter-finals.
7 [PHRASE] n of PHR, PHR n
If you say that something is a matter of life and death, you are emphasizing that it is extremely important, often because someone may die or suffer great harm if people do not act immediately.
Well, never mind, John, it's not a matter of life and death...
8 [PHRASE] V inflects
If someone is put to death, they are executed. (FORMAL)
Those put to death by firing squad included three generals.
9 [PHRASE] PHR after v
You use to death after a verb to indicate that a particular action or process results in someone's death.
He was stabbed to death.
...relief missions to try to keep the country's population from starving to death...
He almost bled to death after the bullet severed an artery.
10 [PHRASE] adj PHR, PHR after v
You use to death after an adjective or a verb to emphasize the action, state, or feeling mentioned. For example, if you are frightened to death or bored to death, you are extremely frightened or bored.
He scares teams to death with his pace and power...brain death
[N-UNCOUNT]
Brain death occurs when someone's brain stops functioning, even though their heart may be kept beating using a machine.cot death (cot deaths)
[N-VAR]
Cot death is the sudden death of a baby while it is asleep, although the baby had not previously been ill. (BRIT; in AM, use crib death)crib death (crib deaths)
[N-VAR]
Crib death is the sudden death of a baby while it is asleep, although the baby had not previously been ill. (AM; in BRIT, use cot death)death blow
also death-blow
[N-SING] oft N to n
If you say that an event or action deals a death blow to something such as a plan or hope, or is a death blow to something, you mean that it puts an end to it. (JOURNALISM)
The deportations would be a death blow to the peace process...death camp (death camps)
[N-COUNT]
A death camp is a place where prisoners are kept, especially during a war, and where many of them die or are killed.death cer|tifi|cate (death certificates)
[N-COUNT]
A death certificate is an official certificate signed by a doctor which states the cause of a person's death.death duties
[N-PLURAL]
Death duties were a tax which had to be paid on the money and property of someone who had died. This tax is now called inheritance tax. (BRIT)death knell
also death-knell
[N-SING] usu the N for/of n
If you say that something sounds the death knell for a particular person or thing, you mean it will cause that person or thing to fail, end, or cease to exist.
The tax increase sounded the death knell for the business...death mask (death masks)
also death-mask
[N-COUNT]
A death mask is a model of someone's face, which is made from a mould that was taken of their face soon after they died.death pen|al|ty
[N-SING] usu the N
The death penalty is the punishment of death used in some countries for people who have committed very serious crimes.
If convicted for murder, both youngsters could face the death penalty.death rate (death rates)
[N-COUNT]
The death rate is the number of people per thousand who die in a particular area during a particular period of time.
By the turn of the century, Pittsburgh had the highest death rate in the United States.death rat|tle
also death-rattle
[N-SING]
If you say that one thing is the death rattle of another, you mean that the first thing is a sign that very soon the second thing will come to an end. (JOURNALISM)
His rhetoric sounds like the death rattle of a fading leadership.death row /d'eθ r'oʊ/
[N-UNCOUNT] oft on N
If someone is on death row, they are in the part of a prison which contains the cells for criminals who have been sentenced to death. (AM)
He has been on Death Row for 11 years...death sen|tence (death sentences)
[N-COUNT]
A death sentence is a punishment of death given by a judge to someone who has been found guilty of a serious crime such as murder.
His original death sentence was commuted to life in prison.death squad (death squads)
[N-COUNT]
Death squads are groups of people who operate illegally and carry out the killing of people such as their political opponents or criminals.death taxes
[N-PLURAL]
Death taxes were a tax which had to be paid on the money and property of someone who had died. This tax is now called inheritance tax. (AM)death throes
also death-throes
1 [N-PLURAL] usu with poss
The death throes of something are its final stages, just before it fails completely or ends. (LITERARY)
2 [N-PLURAL] oft in poss N
If a person or animal is in their death throes, they are dying and making violent, uncontrolled movements, usually because they are suffering great pain.death toll (death tolls)
also death-toll
[N-COUNT]
The death toll of an accident, disaster, or war is the number of people who die in it.death trap (death traps)
also death-trap
[N-COUNT]
If you say that a place or vehicle is a death trap, you mean it is in such bad condition that it might cause someone's death. (INFORMAL)
Badly-built kit cars can be death traps.death war|rant (death warrants)
also death-warrant
1 [N-COUNT]
A death warrant is an official document which orders that someone is to be executed as a punishment for a crime.
2 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that someone is signing their own death warrant, you mean that they are behaving in a way which will cause their ruin or death.
By accusing the King of murder, he signed his own death warrant.death wish
also death-wish
[N-SING]
A death wish is a conscious or unconscious desire to die or be killed.kiss of death
[N-SING] usu the N, oft N for/to n
If you say that a particular event is the kiss of death for something, you mean that it is certain to make them fail or be a disaster.
Trying to please an audience is the kiss of death for an artist.sud|den death
[N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
Sudden death is a way of quickly deciding the winner of something such as a football or basketball game or a golf tournament when there are equal scores at the time when it would normally end. In a sudden-death situation, the first team to score a goal or the first golfer to win a hole is the winner.
1 [N-VAR]
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
1.5 million people are in immediate danger of death from starvation.
...the thirtieth anniversary of her death...
There had been a death in the family...
He almost bled to death after a bullet severed an artery.
≠ birth, life
2 [N-COUNT] with supp
A particular kind of death is a particular way of dying.
They made sure that he died a horrible death...
3 [N-SING] usu the N of n
The death of something is the permanent end of it.
It meant the death of everything he had ever been or ever hoped to be.
= end
4 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you say that someone is at death's door, you mean they are very ill indeed and likely to die. (INFORMAL)
He told his boss a tale about his mother being at death's door...
5 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that you will fight to the death for something, you are emphasizing that you will do anything to achieve or protect it, even if you suffer as a consequence.
She'd have fought to the death for that child.
6 [PHRASE]
If you refer to a fight or contest as a fight to the death, you are emphasizing that it will not stop until the death or total victory of one of the opponents.
He now faces a fight to the death to reach the quarter-finals.
7 [PHRASE] n of PHR, PHR n
If you say that something is a matter of life and death, you are emphasizing that it is extremely important, often because someone may die or suffer great harm if people do not act immediately.
Well, never mind, John, it's not a matter of life and death...
8 [PHRASE] V inflects
If someone is put to death, they are executed. (FORMAL)
Those put to death by firing squad included three generals.
9 [PHRASE] PHR after v
You use to death after a verb to indicate that a particular action or process results in someone's death.
He was stabbed to death.
...relief missions to try to keep the country's population from starving to death...
He almost bled to death after the bullet severed an artery.
10 [PHRASE] adj PHR, PHR after v
You use to death after an adjective or a verb to emphasize the action, state, or feeling mentioned. For example, if you are frightened to death or bored to death, you are extremely frightened or bored.
He scares teams to death with his pace and power...brain death
[N-UNCOUNT]
Brain death occurs when someone's brain stops functioning, even though their heart may be kept beating using a machine.cot death (cot deaths)
[N-VAR]
Cot death is the sudden death of a baby while it is asleep, although the baby had not previously been ill. (BRIT; in AM, use crib death)crib death (crib deaths)
[N-VAR]
Crib death is the sudden death of a baby while it is asleep, although the baby had not previously been ill. (AM; in BRIT, use cot death)death blow
also death-blow
[N-SING] oft N to n
If you say that an event or action deals a death blow to something such as a plan or hope, or is a death blow to something, you mean that it puts an end to it. (JOURNALISM)
The deportations would be a death blow to the peace process...death camp (death camps)
[N-COUNT]
A death camp is a place where prisoners are kept, especially during a war, and where many of them die or are killed.death cer|tifi|cate (death certificates)
[N-COUNT]
A death certificate is an official certificate signed by a doctor which states the cause of a person's death.death duties
[N-PLURAL]
Death duties were a tax which had to be paid on the money and property of someone who had died. This tax is now called inheritance tax. (BRIT)death knell
also death-knell
[N-SING] usu the N for/of n
If you say that something sounds the death knell for a particular person or thing, you mean it will cause that person or thing to fail, end, or cease to exist.
The tax increase sounded the death knell for the business...death mask (death masks)
also death-mask
[N-COUNT]
A death mask is a model of someone's face, which is made from a mould that was taken of their face soon after they died.death pen|al|ty
[N-SING] usu the N
The death penalty is the punishment of death used in some countries for people who have committed very serious crimes.
If convicted for murder, both youngsters could face the death penalty.death rate (death rates)
[N-COUNT]
The death rate is the number of people per thousand who die in a particular area during a particular period of time.
By the turn of the century, Pittsburgh had the highest death rate in the United States.death rat|tle
also death-rattle
[N-SING]
If you say that one thing is the death rattle of another, you mean that the first thing is a sign that very soon the second thing will come to an end. (JOURNALISM)
His rhetoric sounds like the death rattle of a fading leadership.death row /d'eθ r'oʊ/
[N-UNCOUNT] oft on N
If someone is on death row, they are in the part of a prison which contains the cells for criminals who have been sentenced to death. (AM)
He has been on Death Row for 11 years...death sen|tence (death sentences)
[N-COUNT]
A death sentence is a punishment of death given by a judge to someone who has been found guilty of a serious crime such as murder.
His original death sentence was commuted to life in prison.death squad (death squads)
[N-COUNT]
Death squads are groups of people who operate illegally and carry out the killing of people such as their political opponents or criminals.death taxes
[N-PLURAL]
Death taxes were a tax which had to be paid on the money and property of someone who had died. This tax is now called inheritance tax. (AM)death throes
also death-throes
1 [N-PLURAL] usu with poss
The death throes of something are its final stages, just before it fails completely or ends. (LITERARY)
2 [N-PLURAL] oft in poss N
If a person or animal is in their death throes, they are dying and making violent, uncontrolled movements, usually because they are suffering great pain.death toll (death tolls)
also death-toll
[N-COUNT]
The death toll of an accident, disaster, or war is the number of people who die in it.death trap (death traps)
also death-trap
[N-COUNT]
If you say that a place or vehicle is a death trap, you mean it is in such bad condition that it might cause someone's death. (INFORMAL)
Badly-built kit cars can be death traps.death war|rant (death warrants)
also death-warrant
1 [N-COUNT]
A death warrant is an official document which orders that someone is to be executed as a punishment for a crime.
2 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that someone is signing their own death warrant, you mean that they are behaving in a way which will cause their ruin or death.
By accusing the King of murder, he signed his own death warrant.death wish
also death-wish
[N-SING]
A death wish is a conscious or unconscious desire to die or be killed.kiss of death
[N-SING] usu the N, oft N for/to n
If you say that a particular event is the kiss of death for something, you mean that it is certain to make them fail or be a disaster.
Trying to please an audience is the kiss of death for an artist.sud|den death
[N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
Sudden death is a way of quickly deciding the winner of something such as a football or basketball game or a golf tournament when there are equal scores at the time when it would normally end. In a sudden-death situation, the first team to score a goal or the first golfer to win a hole is the winner.