I. ˈȯf also ˈäf adverb
Etymology: Middle English of, from Old English — more at of
1.
a. : from a place or position
march off
fly off
send a letter off
specifically : in a direction away from land
ship stood off to sea
b. : so as to prevent close approach
drove the dogs off
fighting off drowsiness
buy off an enemy
c. : from a course : in a slanting or oblique direction : aside
turned off into a bypath
veered off to avoid collision
his drive fell off to the left of the green
specifically : away from the wind
ship eased off a point or two
d. : into an unconscious state : into sleep
dozed off for a while
must have dropped off
2. : to a state or condition of separateness : so as not to be supported
rolled to the edge of the table and off
or covering or enclosing
blew the lid off
took his coat off
or attached
the handle came off
peeled off the skin
married off two daughters
or united
surface marked off into squares
3.
a. : to a state of discontinuance
shut off an engine
turn off the water
break off a conversation
or exhaustion
drain off excess fluid
drink off a glass at one draft
or completion
the weather has cleared off
coat of paint to finish it off
smooth off the corners
sweep off the porch steps
rattle off a string of clichés
run off a series of racing heats
play off a tie
b. : into a state of relief resulting from an orgasm
go off
dream off
— not often in formal use
4. : in absence from or suspension of regular work or service
take time off for lunch
ask for a day off
5. : at a distance in space or time
stood ten paces off
Christmas is only two weeks off
lives off in the hills
6. : offstage
turns and goes off left
knocking is heard off
7. substandard — used as a function word with and to express abruptness or unexpectedness or directness of an action
he off and bought a whole new outfit
off and busted him in the jaw
— compare haul off
•
- off with
II. preposition
Etymology: Middle English of — more at of
1.
a. — used as a function word to indicate a supporting surface or a position of rest, attachment, or union from which separation is made
take it off the table
eat off a plate
bullet glanced off the wall
took the property off his hands
cut two yards off the roll of cloth
b. : down from
stepped off the train
2.
a. : from the charge or possession of
bought it off a wandering peddler
had his wallet stolen off him
b. : from as a source of supply : at the expense of
lived off the county
lived off his sister
got two runs off the first pitcher
made his living off the tourists
liked the money he made off it — Will Rogers b.1911
c. : so as to consume
dined off oysters and champagne
3. : to seaward of
two miles off shore
4. — used as a function word to indicate something that one has been but is not now partaking of, occupied with, or engaged upon
off duty
recently gone off smoking
5.
a. — used as a function word to indicate a standard or level from which there is a reduction or falling away
off his usual tennis form
fifteen percent off the list price
two seconds off the track record
b. : diverging from (a main course)
two points off the wind
off center
off balance
kept getting off the subject
got off the route at the park
a street opening off the avenue
: situated or occurring apart from (a principal place or proceeding)
little shop just off Main Street
speaking off the record
— used often in combination
off -Broadway play
talks … to imaginary people that are carefully off -camera — Newsweek
•
- off the mark
III. adjective
Etymology: off (I)
1.
a. : more removed or distant : opposite to the main part or side
went round to the off side of the building
the off side of the medal was blank
b. : situated to one side : not main or principal
off street
off branch of the river
c. : being on the side away from the shore : seaward
keeping the buoy on her off side
d. : being or relating to the side of an animal, team, or vehicle that is farther from the driver as he walks or rider as he mounts : right
off horse in a team
off leg
off wheel
— opposed to near
e. : of or relating to the side of the cricket field opposite to that on which the batsman stands
an off hit
an off play
an off stroke
2.
a. : set in motion : started on the way
off on one of his tirades
off on a spree
b. : not taking place or staying in effect
the picnic is off
in case of a tie all bets are off
c. bridge : having lost or destined to lose
the spade finesse was off
d. : off side (sense 3)
e. : not flowing : checked from flowing by a closed valve or opened switch
repairs made while the current is off
the lever is in the off position
hot water is off
f. of a braking device : not applied : released, inoperative
3.
a. : not corresponding to fact : divergent or erring from a true line or exact figure
off in his reckoning
your guesses are way off
b. : not being up to normal condition or usual efficiency : not being at one's best
every performer has his off days
c. : not entirely sane : mentally unstable : odd , eccentric
the poor fellow is a little off
psychiatrists … understand that a person can be off on one topic and fully normal in others — Ruth P. Randall
d. : remote , slight
only an off chance of his being right
e. : not familiar or well-known : not well advertised
suspicious of off brands
4.
a. : taken or spent off duty or in relaxation
reading on his off days
b. : marked by a falling off or by less than ordinary activity or productiveness or amount of business : slack
off season in European travel
5.
a. : slightly tinged with some or another hue or with gray
off shades
an off kind of blue — C.B.Kelland
b. : being of inferior quality
off grade of oil
: detracting from quality
trying to keep butter free from any off odors
also : tainted
this cream is off
c. : being at a lower level
industrial stocks were 1.12 points off for the day
railroad traffic was off 5 percent
— opposed to up
d. of a racetrack : not being in good condition : not fast
ran his best races on off tracks
e. of a bridge hand : short of the ideal or normal requirement
off by two aces
6. : having completed a pressrun whether or not removed from the press
form is off
7. : conditioned or circumstanced especially as to material welfare
not rich but comfortably off
thought he was just as well off without a wife
the house was badly off for paint
8. of an animal's age : more than a specified number of years
a mare four off but not yet rising five
9. : relating to the sale of liquor that is to be consumed away from the premises
an off license
IV. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: off (I)
transitive verb
: to take off : doff
intransitive verb
1. of a ship : to move away from shore : start out to sea
2.
a. : to go away : depart — used chiefly as an imperative
off , or I shoot
b. : to get or be off — used chiefly as an imperative
off , ye lendings — Shakespeare
V. noun
( s )
Etymology: off (III)
1. : the condition or state of being off
their engagement had its offs and ons
2. : the side of a cricket field bisected by a straight line passing through both middle stumps from boundary to boundary opposite to that on which the batsman stands — compare leg , on ; see cricket illustration
VI. abbreviation
1. offered
2. office; officer; official
3. officinal
VII. transitive verb
slang : kill : murder
wouldn't think no more of offing a cop than stepping on a roach — Robby Wideman