Definition of 'die'

Word Frequency

die

(daɪ )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense dies , present participle dying , past tense, past participle died

1. verb [no passive]

When people, animals, and plants die, they stop living.

A year later my dog died. [VERB]

Sadly, both he and my mother died of cancer. [V + of/from]

I would die a very happy person if I could stay in music my whole life. [VERB noun]

...friends who died young. [VERB adjective]

dead

2. verb [only cont]

If a person, animal, or plant is dying, they are so ill or so badly injured that they will not live very much longer.

The elm trees are all dying. [VERB]

Every working day I treat people who are dying from lung diseases caused by smoking. [V + of/from]

3. verb [no passive]

If someone dies a violent, unnatural, or painful death, they die in a violent, unnatural, or painful way.

He watched helplessly as his mother died an agonizing death. [VERB noun]

I'm no expert, but I don't think Tracy died a natural death. [VERB noun]

4. verb

If a machine or device dies, it stops completely, especially after a period of working more and more slowly or inefficiently.

[written]

Then suddenly, the engine coughed, spluttered and died. [VERB]

Synonyms: stop, fail, halt, break down More Synonyms of die

5. verb

If a fire or light dies, it stops burning or shining.

[literary]

Her cigarette glowed brightly, then died. [VERB]

6. verb

If an emotion or facial expression dies, it disappears completely, usually after a period of gradually becoming weaker and less noticeable.

[literary]

My love for you will never die. [VERB]

Kathryn looked down at the floor and the smile died on her lips. [VERB]

Synonyms: dwindle, end, decline, pass More Synonyms of die

7. verb [only cont]

You can say that you are dying of thirst, hunger, boredom, or curiosity to emphasize that you are very thirsty, hungry, bored, or curious.

[informal, emphasis]

Order me a pot of tea, I'm dying of thirst. [VERB + of]

8. verb [only cont]

You can say that you are dying for something or are dying to do something to emphasize that you very much want to have it or do it.

[informal, emphasis]

I'm dying for a breath of fresh air. [VERB + for]

She was dying to talk to Frank. [VERB to-infinitive]

9. verb

You can use die in expressions such as 'I almost died' or 'I'd die if anything happened' where you are emphasizing your feelings about a situation, for example to say that it is very shocking, upsetting, embarrassing, or amusing.

[informal, mainly spoken, emphasis]

I nearly died when I learned where I was ending up. [VERB]

I nearly died of shame. [VERB + of]

I thought I'd die laughing. [VERB verb-ing]

10. countable noun

A die is a specially shaped or patterned block of metal which is used to press or cut other metal into a particular shape.

11. See also dying

12.

See the die is cast

13.

See die hard

Phrasal verbs:

See die away

See die back

See die down

See die out

More Synonyms of die

Video: pronunciation of
die

die in British English 1

(daɪ )

verbWord forms: dies, dying or died (mainly intr)

(of an organism or its cells, organs, etc) to cease all biological activity permanently

she died of pneumonia

(of something inanimate) to cease to exist; come to an end

the memory of her will never die

3. (often foll by away, down, or out)

to lose strength, power, or energy, esp by degrees

4. (often foll by away or down)

to become calm or quiet; subside

the noise slowly died down

to stop functioning

the engine died

to languish or pine, as with love, longing, etc

7. (usually foll by of) informal

to be nearly overcome (with laughter, boredom, etc)

8. theology

to lack spiritual life within the soul, thus separating it from God and leading to eternal punishment

9. (transitive)

to undergo or suffer (a death of a specified kind) (esp in phrases such as die a saintly death)

10. (foll by to)

to become indifferent or apathetic (to)

to die to the world

11. See never say die

12. See die hard

13. See die in harness

14. See be dying

15. See to die for

▶ USAGE It was formerly considered incorrect to use the preposition from after die, but of and from are now both acceptable: he died of/from his injuries

Word origin

Old English dīegan, probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse deyja, Old High German touwen

Word Frequency

die in British English 2

(daɪ )

noun

a shaped block of metal or other hard material used to cut or form metal in a drop forge, press, or similar device

a tool of metal, silicon carbide, or other hard material with a conical hole through which wires, rods, or tubes are drawn to reduce their diameter

an internally-threaded tool for cutting external threads

Compare tap2 (sense 6)

a casting mould giving accurate dimensions and a good surface to the object cast

die in American English 1

(daɪ )

verb intransitiveWord forms: died or ˈdying

to stop living; become dead

to suffer the agony of death or an agony regarded as like it

to cease existing; end

to stop functioning

to lose force or activity; become weak, faint, unimportant, etc.

to fade or wither away

to become alien or indifferent (to), as if dead

to pine away, as with desire

8. Informal

to wish with extreme intensity; yearn

she's dying to learn the secret

9. Theology

to suffer spiritual death

Idioms:

SYNONYMY NOTE: die1 is the basic, simple, direct word meaning to stop living or to become dead; , decease, expire, and pass away (see pass2, vi. 7) are all euphemisms, decease being also the legal term, , expire meaning literally to breathe one's last breath, and pass away suggesting a coming to an end; perish implies death by a violent means or under difficult circumstances

Word origin

ME dien < ON deyja < IE base *dheu-, to pass away, become senseless > OS doian, to die, OE dead, OHG tot, dead

Word Frequency

die in American English 2

(daɪ )

nounWord forms: plural dice (daɪs ) or dies (daɪz )

a small, marked cube used in games of chance

die in American English 1

(dai)

intransitive verbWord forms: verb died or dying

to cease to live; undergo the complete and permanent cessation of all vital functions; become dead

2. (of something inanimate)

to cease to exist

The laughter died on his lips

to lose force, strength, or active qualities

Superstitions die slowly

to cease to function; stop

The motor died

to be no longer subject; become indifferent

to die to worldly matters

6. (usually fol. by away, out, or down)

to pass gradually; fade or subside gradually

The storm slowly died down

7. Theology

to lose spiritual life

to faint or languish

to suffer as if fatally

I'm dying of boredom!

10.

to pine with desire, love, longing, etc.

I'm dying to see my home again

11.

to desire or want keenly or greatly

I'm dying for a cup of coffee

12. See die away

13. See die down

14. See die hard

15. See die off

16. See die out

17. See die standing up

18. See never say die

19. See to die for

Word origin

[1150–1200; ME dien, deien ‹ ON deyja. Cf. dead, death]

Word Frequency

die in American Englishfor 3 2

(dai) (noun plural for 1, 2, 4 dies or dice, verb died or dieing)

noun

1. Machinery

any of various devices for cutting or forming material in a press or a stamping or forging machine

a hollow device of steel, often composed of several pieces to be fitted into a stock, for cutting the threads of bolts or the like

one of the separate pieces of such a device

a steel block or plate with small conical holes through which wire, plastic rods, etc., are drawn

an engraved stamp for impressing a design upon some softer material, as in coining money

3. sing. of dice

4. Architecture dado (sense 1)

5. See the die is cast

transitive verb

to impress, shape, or cut with a die

Word origin

[1300–50; ME de (in early modern E taking the vowel of the pl. form dice) ‹ OF de(i), presumbly ‹ L datum given (neut. ptp. of dare to give), perh. in the deriv. sense “put, placed,” hence “played, cast”]

Word Frequency

die in Mechanical Engineering

(daɪ)

Word forms: (regular plural) dies

noun

(Mechanical engineering: Manufacturing and assembly)

A die is a shaped hollow piece into which or through which you force a material in order to produce an object of a particular shape.

A metal rod is forced through a die in order to make the correct shape for the frame.

The metal is placed in a die resembling a mold.

A die is a shaped hollow piece into which or through which you force a material in order to produce an object of a particular shape.

die casting

Examples of 'die' in a sentence
die

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

Tarja remembered wanting to slap some sense into her one moment, wanting to die in her arms the next.We sat with our breath quivering like sick men waiting to die.For every virus we've heard of, there are untold millions that die away, disappear.