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death

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noun American English pronunciation: death /deθ/ 
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singulardeath
pluraldeaths
  1. 1
    [uncountable] the state of being dead

    It was clear that Sandra was very close to death.

    bleed/starve/burn etc. to death:

    These people will starve to death unless they receive help soon.

    stab/kick/beat etc. someone to death:

    Two of the prisoners were beaten to death by the guards.

    escape death (=avoid being killed):

    They narrowly escaped death when their car skidded off the road.

    the cause of death:

    The doctor said that the cause of death was brain damage.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  deathThesaurus entry for this meaning of death
  2. 2
    [countable] an occasion when someone dies

    the rising number of deaths on the roads every year

    There has recently been a death in their family.

    deaths from cancer/disease/traffic accidents etc.:

    The program is aimed at reducing the number of deaths from cancer.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  deathThesaurus entry for this meaning of death
  3. 3
    [singular] the time when something ends or the fact that it ends
    death of:

    the death of apartheid in South Africa

    spell the death of something (=cause the end of it):

    These regulations could spell the death of the industry.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  deathThesaurus entry for this meaning of death

phrases

This is the American English definition of death. View British English definition of death.

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