I. ˈfȯl verb
( fell ˈfel ; fall·en ˈfȯ-lən ; fall·ing )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English feallan; akin to Old High German fallan to fall and perhaps to Lithuanian pulti
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to descend freely by the force of gravity
b. : to hang freely
her hair fall s over her shoulders
c. : to drop oneself to a lower position
fell to his knees
d. : to come or go as if by falling
darkness fall s early in the winter
2. : to become born — usually used of lambs
3.
a. : to become lower in degree or level
the temperature fell 10°
b. : to drop in pitch or volume
their voices fell to a whisper
c. : issue 1a, b
wisdom that fell from his lips
d. : to become lowered
her eyes fell
4.
a. : to leave an erect position suddenly and involuntarily
slipped and fell on the ice
b. : to enter as if unawares : stumble , stray
fell into error
c. : to drop down wounded or dead ; especially : to die in battle
d. : to suffer military capture
after a long siege the city fell
e. : to lose office
the party fell from power
f. : to suffer ruin, defeat, or failure
the deal fell through
5. : to commit an immoral act ; especially : to lose one's chastity
6.
a. : to move or extend in a downward direction
the land fall s away to the east
b. : subside , abate
the wind is fall ing
c. : to decline in quality, activity, or quantity
production fell off
d. : to lose weight — used with off or away
e. : to assume a look of shame, disappointment, or dejection
his face fell
f. : to decline in financial value or price
stocks fell sharply
7.
a. : to occur at a certain time
her birthday fall s on a Monday this year
b. : to come by chance
a job that fell into his hands
c. : to come or pass by lot, assignment, or inheritance : devolve
it fell to him to break the news
d. : to have a certain or proper position, place, or station
the accent fall s on the second syllable
8. : to come within the limits, scope, or jurisdiction of something
this word fall s into the class of verbs
9. : to pass suddenly and passively into a state of body or mind or a new state or condition
fall asleep
fall in love
10. : to set about heartily or actively
fell to work
11. : strike , impinge
music fall ing on the ear
transitive verb
: fell 1
•
- fall all over oneself
- fall apart
- fall behind
- fall between two stools
- fall flat
- fall for
- fall from grace
- fall home
- fall into line
- fall on
- fall on one's face
- fall on one's sword
- fall short
II. noun
Date: 13th century
1. : the act of falling by the force of gravity
2.
a. : a falling out, off, or away : dropping
the fall of leaves
a fall of snow
b. : the season when leaves fall from trees : autumn
c. : a thing or quantity that falls or has fallen
a fall of rock at the base of the cliff
especially : one or more meteorites or their fragments that have fallen together
d.
(1) : birth
(2) : the quantity born — usually used of lambs
3.
a. : a costume decoration of lace or thin fabric arranged to hang loosely and gracefully
b. : a very wide turned-down collar worn in the 17th century
c. : the part of a turnover collar from the crease to the outer edge
d. : a wide front flap on trousers (as those worn by sailors)
e. : the freely hanging lower edge of the skirt of a coat
f. : one of the three outer and often drooping segments of the flower of an iris
g. : long hair overhanging the face of dogs of some breeds
h. : a usually long straight portion of hair that is attached to a person's own hair
4. : a hoisting-tackle rope or chain ; especially : the part of it to which the power is applied
5.
a. : loss of greatness : collapse
the fall of the Roman Empire
b. : the surrender or capture of a besieged place
the fall of Troy
c. : lapse or departure from innocence or goodness
d. : loss of a woman's chastity
e. : the blame for a failure or misdeed
took the fall for the robbery
6.
a. : the downward slope (as of a hill) : declivity
b. : a precipitous descent of water : waterfall — usually used in plural but sing. or plural in constr.
c. : a musical cadence
d. : a falling-pitch intonation in speech
7. : a decrease in size, quantity, degree, or value
8.
a. : the distance which something falls
b. : inclination , pitch
9.
a. : the act of felling something
b. : the quantity of trees cut down
c.
(1) : an act of forcing a wrestler's shoulders to the mat for a specified time (as one second)
(2) : a bout of wrestling
10. Scottish : destiny , lot
III. adjective
Date: 1677
: of, relating to, or suitable for autumn
a new fall coat