Word Definition

Dead

  1. Destitute of life; inanimate; as, dead matter.
  2. Flat; without gloss; -- said of painting which has been applied purposely to have this effect.
  3. 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.
  4. Bringing death; deadly.
  5. 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.
  6. Not imparting motion or power; as, the dead spindle of a lathe, etc. See Spindle.
  7. Lacking spirit; dull; lusterless; cheerless; as, dead eye; dead fire; dead color, etc.
  8. To make dead; to deaden; to deprive of life, force, or vigor.
  9. Sure as death; unerring; fixed; complete; as, a dead shot; a dead certainty.
  10. So constructed as not to transmit sound; soundless; as, a dead floor.
  11. Resembling death in appearance or quality; without show of life; deathlike; as, a dead sleep.
  12. Monotonous or unvaried; as, a dead level or pain; a dead wall.
  13. Still as death; motionless; inactive; useless; as, dead calm; a dead load or weight.
  14. One who is dead; -- commonly used collectively.
  15. Wanting in religious spirit and vitality; as, dead faith; dead works.
  16. Not brilliant; not rich; thus, brown is a dead color, as compared with crimson.
  17. To a degree resembling death; to the last degree; completely; wholly.
  18. To die; to lose life or force.
  19. Unproductive; bringing no gain; unprofitable; as, dead capital; dead stock in trade.
  20. The most quiet or deathlike time; the period of profoundest repose, inertness, or gloom; as, the dead of winter.