fall

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fall[1,verb] falling diphthong falling-out falling rhythm falling star

Main Entry: ¹fall
Pronunciation: 'fol
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): fell /'fel/; fall·en /'fo-l&n/; fall·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English feallan; akin to Old High German fallan to fall and perhaps to Lithuanian pulti
intransitive verb
1 a : to descend freely by the force of gravity b : to hang freely <her hair falls over her shoulders> c : to drop oneself to a lower position <fell to his knees> d : to come or go as if by falling <darkness falls early in the winter>
2 : to become born -- usually used of lambs
3 a : to become lower in degree or level <the temperature fell 10°> b : to drop in pitch or volume <their voices fell to a whisper> c : ISSUE 1a, b <wisdom that fell from his lips> d : to become lowered <her eyes fell>
4 a : to leave an erect position suddenly and involuntarily <slipped and fell on the ice> b : to enter as if unawares : STUMBLE, STRAY <fell into error> c : to drop down wounded or dead; especially : to die in battle d : to suffer military capture <after a long siege the city fell> e : to lose office <the party fell from power> f : to suffer ruin, defeat, or failure <the deal fell through>
5 : to commit an immoral act; especially : to lose one's chastity
6 a : to move or extend in a downward direction <the land falls away to the east> b : SUBSIDE, ABATE <the wind is falling> c : to decline in quality, activity, or quantity <production fell off> d : to lose weight -- used with off or away e : to assume a look of shame, disappointment, or dejection <his face fell> f : to decline in financial value or price <stocks fell sharply>
7 a : to occur at a certain time <her birthday falls on a Monday this year> b : to come by chance <a job that fell into his hands> c : to come or pass by lot, assignment, or inheritance : DEVOLVE <it fell to him to break the news> d : to have a certain or proper position, place, or station <the accent falls on the second syllable>
8 : to come within the limits, scope, or jurisdiction of something <this word falls into the class of verbs>
9 : to pass suddenly and passively into a state of body or mind or a new state or condition <fall asleep> <fall in love>
10 : to set about heartily or actively <fell to work>
11 : STRIKE, IMPINGE <music falling on the ear>
transitive verb : FELL 1
- fall all over oneself or fall over oneself or fall over backward : to display great or excessive eagerness
- fall apart
1 : DISINTEGRATE
2 : to succumb to mental or emotional stress : BREAK DOWN
- fall behind
1 : to lag behind
2 : to be in arrears
- fall between two stools : to fail because of inability to choose between or reconcile two alternative or conflicting courses of action
- fall flat : to produce no response or result <the joke fell flat>
- fall for
1 : to fall in love with
2 : to become a victim of <fell for the trick>
- fall from grace : BACKSLIDE 1
- fall home : to curve inward -- used of the timbers or upper parts of a ship's side
- fall into line : to comply with a certain course of action
- fall on or fall upon : to meet with <fell on hard times>
- fall on one's face : to fail utterly <the movie fell on its face at the box office>
- fall on one's sword : to sacrifice one's pride or position
- fall short
1 : to be deficient
2 : to fail to attain something (as a goal or target)