die

¹die

intransitive verb \ˈdī\

dieddy·ing \ˈdī-iŋ\

Definition of DIE

1

: to pass from physical life : expire

2

a : to pass out of existence : cease <their anger died at these words>

b : to disappear or subside gradually —often used with away, down, or out <the storm died down>

3

a : sink, languish <dying from fatigue>

b : to long keenly or desperately <dying to go>

c : to be overwhelmed by emotion <die of embarrassment>

4

a : to cease functioning : stop <the motor died>

b : to end in failure <the bill died in committee>

5

: to become indifferent <die to worldly things>

— die hard

1

: to be long in dying <such rumors die hard>

2

: to continue resistance against hopeless odds <that kind of determination dies hard>

— die on the vine

: to fail especially at an early stage through lack of support or enthusiasm <let the proposal die on the vine>

— to die for

: extremely desirable or appealing <the dessert was to die for>

Examples of DIE

1. She claims she's not afraid to die.
2. He died in 1892 at the age of 37.
3. People in the town began dying suddenly.
4. He died a violent and painful death.
5. Her secret died with her.
6. He's the last of a dying breed.

Origin of DIE

Middle English dien, from or akin to Old Norse deyja to die; akin to Old High German touwen to die

First Known Use: 12th century

Related to DIE

Synonyms

check out, conk (out), croak [slang], decease, demise, depart, drop, end, exit, expire, fall, flatline, go, kick in [slang], kick off [slang], pass (on), pass away, part, peg out [chiefly British], perish, pop off, step out, succumb, bite the dust, buy it (or buy the farm), give up the ghost, kick the bucket, snuff it [British]

Antonyms

breathe, live

Related Words

predecease; consume, disappear, dry up, fade, fail

Near Antonyms

come to, revive; linger; be, exist, subsist; flourish, prosper, thrive

²die

noun \ˈdī\

plural dice \ˈdīs\ or dies \ˈdīz\

Definition of DIE

1

plural dice : a small cube marked on each face with from one to six spots and used usually in pairs in various games and in gambling by being shaken and thrown to come to rest at random on a flat surface —often used figuratively in expressions concerning chance or the irrevocability of a course of action <the die was cast>

2

plural dies : dado 1a

3

plural dies : any of various tools or devices for imparting a desired shape, form, or finish to a material or for impressing an object or material: as

a (1) : the larger of a pair of cutting or shaping tools that when moved toward each other produce a desired form in or impress a desired device on an object by pressure or by a blow (2) : a device composed of a pair of such tools

b : a hollow internally threaded screw-cutting tool used for forming screw threads

c : a mold into which molten metal or other material is forced

d : a perforated block through which metal or plastic is drawn or extruded for shaping

Examples of DIE

1. Each player throws one die.
2. <he rolled the die, hoping for a six>

Origin of DIE

Middle English dee, from Anglo-French dé

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DIE

Synonyms

bones, dice

die

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Tool or device for imparting a desired shape, form, or finish to a material. Examples include a perforated block through which metal or plastic is drawn or extruded, the hardened steel forms for producing the patterns on coins and medals by pressure, and the hollow molds into which metal or plastic is forced. Modern tools and dies can be traced to the work of Honoré Blanc at the Saint-Étienne armoury in France beginning in 1780. Blanc's techniques were adopted and enlarged in the U.S. by Eli Whitney and others, who used templates (tool-guiding patterns) and fixtures—the antecedents of today's tools and dies—to mass-produce firearms for the U.S. Army (see armoury practice). Today the demand for dies used in metal forming, die casting, and plastic molding is filled by tool- and die-making shops.