D defs.my
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Entry 21 senses · 5 variants Webster, 1913

Dead

/(dĕd)/ · IPA /dɛd/
01 a. Deprived of life; -- opposed to alive and living; reduced to that state of a being in which the organs of motion and life have irrevocably …
  1. 1.
    Deprived of life; -- opposed to alive and living; reduced to that state of a being in which the organs of motion and life have irrevocably ceased to perform their functions; as, a dead tree; a dead man.
    “The crew, all except himself, were dead of hunger.” — Arbuthnot.
    “Seek him with candle, bring him dead or living.” — Shak.
  2. 2.
    Destitute of life; inanimate; as, dead matter.
  3. 3.
    Resembling death in appearance or quality; without show of life; deathlike; as, a dead sleep.
  4. 4.
    Still as death; motionless; inactive; useless; as, dead calm; a dead load or weight.
  5. 5.
    So constructed as not to transmit sound; soundless; as, a dead floor.
  6. 6.
    Unproductive; bringing no gain; unprofitable; as, dead capital; dead stock in trade.
  7. 7.
    Lacking spirit; dull; lusterless; cheerless; as, dead eye; dead fire; dead color, etc.
  8. 8.
    Monotonous or unvaried; as, a dead level or pain; a dead wall.
  9. 9.
    Sure as death; unerring; fixed; complete; as, a dead shot; a dead certainty.
    “I had them a dead bargain.” — Goldsmith.
  10. 10.
    Bringing death; deadly.
  11. 11.
    Wanting in religious spirit and vitality; as, dead faith; dead works.
  12. 12.
    Flat; without gloss; -- said of painting which has been applied purposely to have this effect.(Paint.)
  13. 13.
    Cut off from the rights of a citizen; deprived of the power of enjoying the rights of property; as, one banished or becoming a monk is civilly dead.(Law)
  14. 14.
    Not imparting motion or power; as, the dead spindle of a lathe, etc. See Spindle.(Mach.) See: Spindle
  15. 15.
    Carrying no current, or producing no useful effect; -- said of a conductor in a dynamo or motor, also of a telegraph wire which has no instrument attached and, therefore, is not in use.(Elec.)
  16. 16.
    Out of play; regarded as out of the game; -- said of a ball, a piece, or a player under certain conditions in cricket, baseball, checkers, and some other games.
    “[In golf], a ball is said to lie dead when it lies so near the hole that the player is certain to hole it in the next stroke.” — Encyc. of Sport.
    “I deme thee, thou must algate be dead.” — Chaucer.
Syn. Inanimate; deceased; extinct. See Lifeless.
02 adv. To a degree resembling death; to the last degree; completely; wholly.
  1. 1.
    To a degree resembling death; to the last degree; completely; wholly.[Colloq.]
    “I was tired of reading, and dead sleepy.” — Dickens.
Phrases & compounds
Dead drunk — so drunk as to be unconscious.
03 n. The most quiet or deathlike time; the period of profoundest repose, inertness, or gloom; as, the dead of winter.
  1. 1.
    The most quiet or deathlike time; the period of profoundest repose, inertness, or gloom; as, the dead of winter.
    “When the drum beat at dead of night.” — Campbell.
  2. 2.
    One who is dead; -- commonly used collectively.
    “And Abraham stood up from before his dead.” — Gen. xxiii. 3.
04 v. t. To make dead; to deaden; to deprive of life, force, or vigor.
  1. 1.
    To make dead; to deaden; to deprive of life, force, or vigor.[Obs.]
    “Heaven's stern decree, With many an ill, hath numbed and deaded me.” — Chapman.
05 v. i. To die; to lose life or force.
  1. 1.
    To die; to lose life or force.[Obs.]
    “So iron, as soon as it is out of the fire, deadeth straightway.” — Bacon.