Definition

1. Verb:

   • To cease living; to undergo the permanent cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism: This is the primary meaning of "die," referring to the end of life for a person, animal, or plant.
   • To stop functioning or existing; to come to an end: "Die" can describe the cessation of activity, operation, or existence of inanimate things, ideas, or emotions.
   • To experience an intense emotion, such as embarrassment, amusement, or longing: Used informally to express an extreme feeling, often in hyperbolic phrases.

2. Noun:

   • A small cube marked with spots (pips) on each face, used in games of chance: One of a pair of dice.
   • A tool used for cutting, shaping, or stamping material, such as metal: A device used in manufacturing.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:

  • Plants will die without water. (Living organisms cease to live.)
  • The engine died on the highway. (A machine stopped functioning.)
  • The old traditions are dying. (Customs are disappearing.)
  • I died laughing during the show. (I experienced extreme amusement.)
  • She is dying to know the secret. (She has an intense desire to know.)

• Noun:

  • He rolled the die and got a six. (A gaming cube.)
  • The coin was stamped using a metal die. (A shaping tool.)

Advanced Usage

• "to die for": To be extremely desirable or excellent.
  • This chocolate cake is to die for.
• "to die hard": To be difficult to change or eliminate.
  • Old habits die hard.
• "never say die": An exhortation not to give up hope.
  • Come on, team, never say die!

Variants and Related Words

• Dead (adj): No longer alive.
• Death (n): The act or fact of dying.
• Dying (adj/n): In the process of death; coming to an end.
• Die-hard (n/adj): A person who stubbornly adheres to a belief or tradition.
• Die-cast (adj): Formed by forcing molten metal into a mold (die).

Synonyms

• Verb (cease living): Perish, expire, pass away, decease.
• Verb (stop functioning): Fail, break down, give out.
• Verb (disappear): Vanish, fade, wither.
• Noun (cube): Dice (plural form).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Die away: To diminish gradually until inaudible or invisible.
  • The sound of the music died away.
• Die down: To become less strong or violent.
  • The storm finally died down.
• Die off: To die one after another until few or none are left.
  • The fish began to die off due to pollution.
• Die out: To become extinct or disappear completely.
  • Many species are in danger of dying out.

Related Idioms

• The die is cast: A decision has been made and cannot be changed.
  • We've signed the contract; the die is cast.
• To be dying for/to do something: To want something very much.
  • I'm dying for a cup of coffee.
• To die a natural death: To cease or end without external intervention.
  • The rumor eventually died a natural death.

Noun

1. a cutting tool that is fitted into a diestock and used for cutting male (external) screw threads on screws or bolts or pipes or rods
2. a device used for shaping metal
3. a small cube with 1 to 6 spots on the six faces; used in gambling to generate random numbers

Verb

1. suffer spiritual death; be damned (in the religious sense)
   • Whosoever..believes in me shall never die
2. disappear or come to an end
   • Their anger died
   • My secret will die with me!
3. lose sparkle or bouquet
   • wine and beer can pall
4. to be on base at the end of an inning, of a player
5. cut or shape with a die
   • Die out leather for belts
6. languish as with love or desire
   • She dying for a cigarette
   • I was dying to leave
7. feel indifferent towards
   • She died to worldly things and eventually entered a monastery
8. stop operating or functioning
   • The engine finally went
   • The car died on the road
   • The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town
   • The coffee maker broke
   • The engine failed on the way to town
   • her eyesight went after the accident
9. be brought to or as if to the point of death by an intense emotion such as embarrassment, amusement, or shame
   • I was dying with embarrassment when my little lie was discovered
   • We almost died laughing during the show
10. suffer or face the pain of death
    • Martyrs may die every day for their faith
11. pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
    • She died from cancer
    • The children perished in the fire
    • The patient went peacefully
    • The old guy kicked the bucket at the age of 102