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>3capitalized : the destroyer of life represented usually as a skeleton with a scythe4: the state of being dead5 a: the passing or destruction of something inanimate <the death of vaudeville> b: extinction6: civil death7: slaughter8Christian 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>

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