~ 1
■ adverb
1》 towards or in a lower place or position.
↘to or at a place perceived as lower.
↘away from the north.
↘ Brit. away from the capital or major city.
↘ Brit. away from a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge.
2》 to or at a lower level or value.
↘to a smaller amount or size, or a simpler or more basic state.
↘from an earlier to a later point in time or order.
3》 in or into a weaker or worse position, mood, or condition.
↘(of a computer system) out of action.
4》 so as to lie flush or flat.
5》 in or into writing.
↘on or on to a list or record.
6》 (with reference to partial payment of a sum of money) made initially or on the spot.
7》 (of sailing) with the current or the wind.
↘(of a ship's helm) moved round to leeward.
8》 American Football (of the ball or a player in possession) not in play.
■ preposition
1》 from a higher to a lower point of.
2》 at a point further along the course of.
↘along the course or extent of.
3》 throughout (a period of time).
4》 informal at or to (a place).
■ adjective
1》 directed or moving towards a lower place or position.
↘denoting trains travelling away from the main terminus.
2》 unhappy.
3》 (of a computer system) out of action.
4》 US black slang supporting or going along with.
↘following the latest fashion.
5》 Physics denoting a flavour of quark having a charge of - 1/3.
■ verb informal
1》 knock or bring to the ground.
2》 consume (a drink).
3》 (of a golfer) sink (a putt).
■ noun
1》 ( ~s ) informal unwelcome events.
2》 informal a period of unhappiness.
3》 American Football a chance for a team to advance the ball, ending when the ball carrier is tackled or the ball becomes out of play.
Phrases
be (or have a ) ~ on Brit. informal feel hostile towards.
be ~ to
1》 be attributable to (a factor).
↘be the responsibility of.
2》 be left with only (the specified amount).
~ and dirty N. Amer. informal
1》 highly competitive or unprincipled.
2》 raw and uninhibited.
~ at heel
1》 (of a shoe) having a worn heel.
2》 shabby or impoverished.
~ in the mouth informal unhappy.
~ on one's luck informal having a period of bad luck.
~ to the ground informal completely; totally.
~ tools Brit. informal stop work.
~ with —— expressing strong dislike.
Origin
OE dūn , dūne , shortened from adūne '~ward', from the phr. of dūne 'off the hill' (see ~ 3 ).
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~ 2
■ noun
1》 soft, fine feathers forming the covering of a young bird or an insulating layer below the contour feathers of an adult bird, used for stuffing cushions and quilts.
2》 fine, soft hair on a person's skin.
↘short, soft hairs on leaves, fruit, or seeds.
Origin
ME: from ON dúnn .
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~ 3
■ noun a gently rolling hill.
↘( the Downs ) ridges of undulating chalk and limestone hills in southern England.
Origin
OE dūn 'hill', perh. ult. of Celtic origin and related to Old Ir. dún and obs. Welsh din 'fort'.