n.
1) ( usu. fig .) to scrape the ~ of the barrel ('to use one's last resources')
2) ( fig .) to hit ('reach') ~
3) to sink to the ~
4) a double, false ~
5) a ~ to (there's a false ~ to the suitcase)
6) at, on the ~ (at the ~ of the well; we never could find out what was at the ~ of the affair)
7) ( misc. ) to get to the ~ of an affair ('to clear up a matter')