fall
fall /ˈfɑːl/
noun
-
(
)
[ N. American]
The season when the leaves fall from the trees
(
autumn
, fall
[ N. American] )
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
In the fall of 1973
in the fall of 1973
-
()
A sudden drop from an upright position
(
spill
, tumble
, fall
)
a sudden drop from an upright position
He had a nasty spill on the ice
he had a nasty spill on the ice
-
()
A lapse into sin; a loss of innocence or of chastity
(
fall
)
a lapse into sin; a loss of innocence or of chastity
A fall from virtue
a fall from virtue
-
()
A downward slope or bend
(
declension
, declination
, decline
, declivity
, descent
, downslope
, fall
)
a downward slope or bend
They carefully descended the steep declivity, their steps guided by ropes and harnesses.
They carefully descended the steep declivity, their steps guided by ropes and harnesses.
-
()
The act of surrendering (usually under agreed conditions)
(
capitulation
, surrender
, fall
)
the act of surrendering (usually under agreed conditions)
They were protected until the capitulation of the fort
they were protected until the capitulation of the fort
-
()
A movement downward
(
fall
)
a movement downward
The rise and fall of the tides
the rise and fall of the tides
-
()
A sudden decline in strength, number or importance
(
downfall
, fall
)
a sudden decline in strength, number or importance
The fall of the House of Hapsburg
the fall of the House of Hapsburg
-
A sudden sharp decrease in some quantity
(
dip
, fall
, free fall
, drop
)
a sudden sharp decrease in some quantity
A drop of 57 points on the Dow Jones index
a drop of 57 points on the Dow Jones index
There was a drop in pressure in the pulmonary artery
there was a drop in pressure in the pulmonary artery
A dip in prices
a dip in prices
When that became known the price of their stock went into free fall
when that became known the price of their stock went into free fall
-
A free and rapid descent by the force of gravity
(
drop
, fall
)
a free and rapid descent by the force of gravity
It was a miracle that he survived the drop from that height
it was a miracle that he survived the drop from that height
-
When a wrestler's shoulders are forced to the mat
(
fall
, pin
)
when a wrestler's shoulders are forced to the mat
The wrestler executed a perfect takedown, and his opponent fell to the ground
The wrestler executed a perfect takedown, and his opponent fell to the ground
-
The time of day immediately following sunset
(
crepuscle
, crepuscule
, evenfall
, dusk
, fall
, gloam
[Archaic] , gloaming
, nightfall
, twilight
)
the time of day immediately following sunset
He loved the twilight
he loved the twilight
They finished before the fall of night
they finished before the fall of night
verb
-
()
Descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
(
fall
)
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
The branch fell from the tree
The branch fell from the tree
The unfortunate hiker fell into a crevasse
The unfortunate hiker fell into a crevasse
-
()
Move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
(
go down
, descend
, come down
, fall
)
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
The temperature is going down
The temperature is going down
The barometer is falling
The barometer is falling
The curtain fell on the diva
The curtain fell on the diva
Her hand went up and then fell again
Her hand went up and then fell again
-
()
Pass suddenly and passively into a state of body or mind
(
fall
)
pass suddenly and passively into a state of body or mind
Fall into a trap
fall into a trap
She fell ill
She fell ill
They fell out of favor
They fell out of favor
Fall in love
Fall in love
Fall asleep
fall asleep
Fall prey to an imposter
fall prey to an imposter
Fall into a strange way of thinking
fall into a strange way of thinking
She fell to pieces after she lost her work
she fell to pieces after she lost her work
-
()
Come under, be classified or included
(
come
, fall
)
come under, be classified or included
Fall into a category
fall into a category
This comes under a new heading
This comes under a new heading
-
()
Suffer defeat, failure, or ruin
(
fall
)
suffer defeat, failure, or ruin
We must stand or fall
We must stand or fall
Fall by the wayside
fall by the wayside
-
()
(of rain, snow, etc.) landing after falling from the clouds
(
precipitate
, come down
, fall
)
(of rain, snow, etc.) landing after falling from the clouds
Rain, snow and sleet were falling
rain, snow and sleet were falling
Vesuvius precipitated its fiery, destructive rage on Herculaneum
Vesuvius precipitated its fiery, destructive rage on Herculaneum
-
()
Decrease in size, extent, or range
(
fall
, lessen
, diminish
, decrease
)
decrease in size, extent, or range
The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester
The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester
The cabin pressure fell dramatically
The cabin pressure fell dramatically
Her weight fell to under a hundred pounds
her weight fell to under a hundred pounds
His voice fell to a whisper
his voice fell to a whisper
-
()
Occur at a specified time or place
(
fall
)
occur at a specified time or place
Christmas falls on a Monday this year
Christmas falls on a Monday this year
The accent falls on the first syllable
The accent falls on the first syllable
-
()
Be captured
(
fall
)
be captured
The cities fell to the enemy
The cities fell to the enemy
-
()
Touch or seem as if touching visually or audibly
(
shine
, strike
, fall
)
touch or seem as if touching visually or audibly
Light fell on her face
Light fell on her face
The sun shone on the fields
The sun shone on the fields
The light struck the golden necklace
The light struck the golden necklace
A strange sound struck my ears
A strange sound struck my ears
-
()
Die, as in battle or in a hunt
(
fall
)
die, as in battle or in a hunt
Many soldiers fell at Verdun
Many soldiers fell at Verdun
Several deer have fallen to the same gun
Several deer have fallen to the same gun
The shooting victim fell dead
The shooting victim fell dead
-
()
To be given by assignment or distribution
(
fall
)
to be given by assignment or distribution
The most difficult task fell on the youngest member of the team
The most difficult task fell on the youngest member of the team
The onus fell on us
The onus fell on us
The pressure to succeed fell on the youngest student
The pressure to succeed fell on the youngest student
-
()
Lose office or power
(
fall
)
lose office or power
The government fell overnight
The government fell overnight
The Qing Dynasty fell with Sun Yat-sen
The Qing Dynasty fell with Sun Yat-sen
-
()
Yield to temptation or sin
(
fall
)
yield to temptation or sin
Adam and Eve fell
Adam and Eve fell
-
()
Move in a specified direction
(
fall
)
move in a specified direction
The line of men fall forward
The line of men fall forward
-
Come as if by falling
(
descend
, fall
, settle
)
come as if by falling
Night fell
Night fell
Silence fell
Silence fell
-
Go as if by falling
(
fall
)
go as if by falling
Grief fell from our hearts
Grief fell from our hearts
-
Begin vigorously
(
fall
)
begin vigorously
The prisoners fell to work right away
The prisoners fell to work right away
-
Be born, used chiefly of lambs
(
fall
)
be born, used chiefly of lambs
The lambs fell in the afternoon
The lambs fell in the afternoon
-
Come out; issue
(
fall
)
come out; issue
Silly phrases fell from her mouth
silly phrases fell from her mouth
-
Be cast down
(
fall
)
be cast down
His eyes fell
his eyes fell
-
Assume a disappointed or sad expression
(
fall
)
assume a disappointed or sad expression
Her face fell when she heard that she would be laid off
Her face fell when she heard that she would be laid off
His crest fell
his crest fell
-
Fall or flow in a certain way
(
fall
, flow
, hang
)
fall or flow in a certain way
This dress hangs well
This dress hangs well
Her long black hair flowed down her back
Her long black hair flowed down her back
-
Drop oneself to a lower or less erect position
(
fall
)
drop oneself to a lower or less erect position
She fell back in her chair
She fell back in her chair
He fell to his knees
He fell to his knees
-
Lose an upright position suddenly
(
fall
, fall down
)
lose an upright position suddenly
The vase fell over and the water spilled onto the table
The vase fell over and the water spilled onto the table
Her hair fell across her forehead
Her hair fell across her forehead
-
Slope downward
(
fall
)
slope downward
The hills around here fall towards the ocean
The hills around here fall towards the ocean
-
Be inherited by
(
devolve
, fall
, pass
, return
)
be inherited by
The estate fell to my sister
The estate fell to my sister
The land returned to the family
The land returned to the family
The estate devolved to an heir that everybody had assumed to be dead
The estate devolved to an heir that everybody had assumed to be dead
-
Fall to somebody by assignment or lot
(
fall
, light
)
fall to somebody by assignment or lot
The task fell to me
The task fell to me
It fell to me to notify the parents of the victims
It fell to me to notify the parents of the victims
-
Come into the possession of
(
accrue
, fall
)
come into the possession of
The house accrued to the oldest son
The house accrued to the oldest son
-
To be given by right or inheritance
(
fall
)
to be given by right or inheritance
The estate fell to the oldest daughter
The estate fell to the oldest daughter
-
Lose one's chastity
(
fall
)
lose one's chastity
A fallen woman
a fallen woman
-
Be due
(
fall
)
be due
Payments fall on the 1st of the month
payments fall on the 1st of the month
noun
-
()
The lapse of mankind into sinfulness because of the sin of Adam and Eve
(
Fall
)
the lapse of mankind into sinfulness because of the sin of Adam and Eve
Women have been blamed ever since the Fall
women have been blamed ever since the Fall
