calm 3 BrE AmE ( also calm down ) verb [intransitive and transitive]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ calm , ↑ calmness ; verb : ↑ calm ; adverb : ↑ calmly ; adjective : ↑ calm ]
1 . to become quiet and relaxed after you have been angry, excited, nervous, or upset, or to make someone become quiet and relaxed:
He tried to calm the frightened children.
Calm down and tell me what happened.
We tried to calm people’s fears.
calm yourself (down)
She lit a cigarette to calm herself down.
2 . if a situation calms down, it becomes easier to deal with because there are fewer problems and it is not as busy as it was before:
It took months for things to calm down after we had the baby.
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THESAURUS
■ not moving
▪ still not moving – use this especially about people who are not moving, or about places where there is no wind:
There was no wind and the trees were completely still.
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Keep still while I tie your shoes.
▪ stationary not moving – use this about cars, trains, or objects:
The truck swerved and hit a stationary vehicle.
▪ immobile not moving or not able to move, especially because of fear or tiredness:
As the disease progressed, she became increasingly immobile.
▪ motionless completely still – used especially in literature:
Kemp sat motionless as the verdict was read.
▪ calm not moving because there is no wind – use this about air and water:
The lake was calm.
▪ be at a standstill if traffic is at a standstill it is not moving:
Traffic was at a standstill on the motorway.