dead

adjective

\ ˈded

Definition of dead

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : deprived of life : no longer alive a dead tree dead soldiers missing and presumed dead

2a(1) : having the appearance of death : deathly in a dead faint

(2) : lacking power to move, feel, or respond : numb my arm feels dead

b : very tired Our legs were completely dead after the hike.

c(1) : incapable of being stirred emotionally or intellectually : unresponsive a heart dead to pity felt dead inside

(2) : grown cold : extinguished dead coals

3a : inanimate, inert dead matter

b : barren, infertile dead soil

c : no longer producing or functioning : exhausted a dead battery

4a(1) : lacking power or effect a dead law

(2) : no longer having interest, relevance, or significance a dead issue

b : no longer in use : obsolete a dead language

c : no longer active : extinct a dead volcano

d : lacking in gaiety or animation a dead party

e(1) : lacking in commercial activity : quiet The city is dead after five o'clock.

(2) : commercially idle or unproductive dead capital

f : lacking elasticity (see elasticity sense 1a) a dead tennis ball

g : being out of action or out of use The phone went dead. specifically, electrical engineering : free from any connection to a source of voltage and free from electric charges a dead electrical circuit

h(1) sports, games : being out of play a dead ball

(2) croquet : temporarily forbidden to play or to make a certain play

5a : not running or circulating : stagnant dead water

b : not turning the dead center of a lathe

c mechanical engineering : not imparting motion or power although otherwise functioning a dead rear axle

d : lacking warmth, vigor, or taste The fire was dead. a dead wine

6a : absolutely uniform a dead level of mediocrity

b(1) : unerring a dead shot with a rifle

(2) : exact dead center of the target

(3) : certain to be doomed he's dead if he's late for curfew

(4) : irrevocable a dead loss

c : abrupt brought to a dead stop

d(1) : complete, absolute a dead silence

(2) : all-out caught it on the dead run

7 : devoid of former occupants dead villages

dead in the water

1 : incapable of being effective : stalled peace talks were dead in the water

2 : as good as dead : doomed most books are dead in the water long before their publication— Phillip Lopate

dead to rights

: with no chance of escape or excuse : red-handed had him dead to rights for the robbery

over one's dead body

: only by overcoming one's utter and determined resistance vows that they'll raise his taxes over his dead body

dead

noun

plural dead

Definition of dead (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : someone who is no longer alive : one that is dead (see dead entry 1 sense 1) —usually used collectively They were among the dead.

2 : the state of being dead raised him from the dead — Colossians 2:12 (Revised Standard Version)

3 : the time of greatest quiet the dead of night

dead

adverb

Definition of dead (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : absolutely, utterly dead certain finished dead last The room became dead quiet.— Farley Mowat

2 : suddenly and completely stopped dead in his tracks

3 : directly dead ahead

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Synonyms: Adjective

dead

Definition of dead

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