Main Entry: death

Pronunciation: \ˈdeth\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English deeth, from Old English dēath; akin to Old Norse dauthi death, deyja to die — more at die

Date: before 12th century

1 a : a permanent cessation of all vital functions : the end of life — compare brain death b : an instance of dying <a disease causing many deaths>
2 a : the cause or occasion of loss of life <drinking was the death of him> b : a cause of ruin <the slander that was death to my character — Wilkie Collins>
3 capitalized : the destroyer of life represented usually as a skeleton with a scythe
4 : the state of being dead
5 a : the passing or destruction of something inanimate <the death of vaudeville> b : extinction
6 : civil death
7 : slaughter
8 Christian Science : the lie of life in matter : that which is unreal and untrue

— at death's door : close to death : critically ill

— to death : beyond endurance : excessively <bored to death>