n.
Pronunciation: ' dü
Function: verb
Inflected Form: did \ ' did, d ə d \ ; done \ ' d ə n \ ; do · ing \ ' dü-i ŋ \ ; does \ ' d ə z \
Etymology: Middle English don, from Old English d ō n; akin to Old High German tuon to do, Latin -dere to put, facere to make, do, Greek tithenai to place, set
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 : to bring to pass : CARRY OUT < do another's wishes>
2 : PUT ― used chiefly in do to death
3 a : PERFORM , EXECUTE < do some work> < did his duty> b : COMMIT <crimes done deliberately>
4 a : BRING ABOUT , EFFECT <trying to do good> < do violence> b : to give freely : PAY < do honor to her memory>
5 : to bring to an end : FINISH ― used in the past participle <the job is finally done >
6 : to put forth : EXERT < did her best to win the race>
7 a : to wear out especially by physical exertion : EXHAUST <at the end of the race they were pretty well done > b : to attack physically : BEAT also : KILL
8 : to bring into existence : PRODUCE < do a biography on the general>
9 ― used as a substitute verb especially to avoid repetition <if you must make such a racket, do it somewhere else>
10 a : to play the role or character of b : MIMIC also : to behave like < do a Houdini and disappear> c : to perform in or serve as producer of < do a play>
11 : to treat unfairly especially : CHEAT < did him out of his inheritance>
12 : to treat or deal with in any way typically with the sense of preparation or with that of care or attention: a (1) : to put in order : CLEAN <was do ing the kitchen> (2) : WASH < did the dishes after supper> b : to prepare for use or consumption especially : COOK <like my steak done rare> c : SET , ARRANGE <had her hair done > d : to apply cosmetics to <wanted to do her face before the party> e : DECORATE , FURNISH < did the living room in Early American> < do over the kitchen>
13 : to be engaged in the study or practice of < do science> especially : to work at as a vocation <what to do after college>
14 a : to pass over (as distance) : TRAVERSE < did 20 miles yesterday> b : to travel at a speed of < do ing 55 on the turnpike>
15 : TOUR < do ing 12 countries in 30 days>
16 a : to spend (time) in prison <has been do ing time in a federal penitentiary> b : to serve out (a period of imprisonment) < did ten years for armed robbery>
17 : to serve the needs of : SUIT , SUFFICE <worms will do us for bait>
18 : to approve especially by custom, opinion, or propriety <you oughtn't to say a thing like that ⋯ it's not done ― Dorothy Sayers>
19 : to treat with respect to physical comforts < did themselves well>
20 : USE 3 <doesn't do drugs>
21 : to have sexual intercourse with
22 : to partake of <let's do lunch>
intransitive verb
1 : ACT , BEHAVE < do as I say>
2 a : GET ALONG , FARE < do well in school> b : to carry on business or affairs : MANAGE <we can do without your help>
3 : to take place : HAPPEN <what's do ing across the street>
4 : to come to or make an end : FINISH ― used in the past participle
5 : to be active or busy <let us then be up and do ing ― H. W. Longfellow>
6 : to be adequate or sufficient : SERVE <half of that will do >
7 : to be fitting : conform to custom or propriety <won't do to be late>
8 ― used as a substitute verb to avoid repetition <wanted to run and play as children do > ― used especially in British English following a modal auxiliary or perfective have <a great many people had died, or would do ― Bruce Chatwin>
9 ― used in the imperative after an imperative to add emphasis <be quiet do >
verbal auxiliary
1 a ― used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in legal and parliamentary language < do hereby bequeath> and in poetry <give what she did crave ― Shakespeare> b ― used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in declarative sentences with inverted word order <fervently do we pray ― Abraham Lincoln>, in interrogative sentences < did you hear that?>, and in negative sentences <we don't know> < don't go>
2 ― used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses expressing emphasis <I do say> < do be careful>
– do · able \ ' dü- ə -b ə l \ adjective
– do a number on : to defeat or confound thoroughly especially by indirect or deceptive means
– do away with
1 : to put an end to : ABOLISH
2 : to put to death : KILL
– do by : to deal with : TREAT
– do for
chiefly British
1 : to attend to the wants and needs of : take care of
2 : to bring about the death or ruin of
– do it : to have sexual intercourse
– do justice
1 a : to act justly b : to treat fairly or adequately c : to show due appreciation for
2 : to acquit in a way worthy of one's abilities
– do proud : to give cause for pride or gratification <she did herself proud >
– do the trick : to produce a desired result
– do with : to make good use of : benefit by <could do with a cup of coffee>
– to do : necessary to be done <I've done my best and all's to do again ― A. E. Housman>