fall

[[t]fɔl[/t]]

v. fell, fall•en, fall•ing, n.

1) to drop or descend under the force of gravity, as to a lower place through loss or lack of support

2) to come or drop down suddenly to a lower position, esp. to leave a standing or erect position suddenly, whether voluntarily or not:

to fall on one's knees[/ex]

3) to become less or lower; become of a lower level, degree, amount, quality, value, number, etc.; decline:

The temperature fell rapidly[/ex]

4) to subside or abate

5) extend downward; hang down:

drapes falling in graceful folds[/ex]

6) to become lowered or directed downward, as the eyes

7) cvb to become lower in pitch or volume, as the voice

8) to succumb to temptation or sin, esp. to become unchaste

9) to lose status, dignity, position, character, etc

10) to succumb to attack:

The city fell to the enemy[/ex]

11) to be overthrown, as a government

12) to drop down wounded or dead, esp. to be slain

13) to pass into some physical, mental, or emotional condition:

to fall into a coma; to fall in love[/ex]

14) to come or occur as if by dropping, as stillness or night

15) to issue forth:

Witty remarks fall easily from her lips[/ex]

16) to come by lot or chance:

The chore fell to me[/ex]

17) to come by chance into a particular position:

to fall among thieves[/ex]

18) to come to pass or occur at a certain time:

Christmas falls on a Monday this year[/ex]

19) to have its proper place:

The accent falls on the last syllable[/ex]

20) to come by right:

The inheritance fell to the only living relative[/ex]

21) to lose animation; appear disappointed or dismayed:

The child's face fell when the bird flew away[/ex]

22) to slope or extend in a downward direction:

The field falls gently to the river[/ex]

23) (of light) to shine; stream or beam:

Sunlight fell across the lawn[/ex]

24) (of the eyes or eyesight) to be drawn or directed, esp. unexpectedly or by chance:

My eyes fell upon a dish of candies[/ex]

25) cvb to collapse; topple

26) cvb ahb. (of an animal, esp. a lamb) to be born

27) to fell (a tree, animal, etc.)

28) phv fall away

a) to withdraw support or allegiance

b) to become lean or thin; diminish; decline

c) to forsake one's faith, cause, or principles

29) phv fall back, to give way; recede; retreat

30) phv fall back on or upon

to have recourse to; rely on:

no savings to fall back on[/ex]

31) phv fall behind

a) to lag in pace or progress

b) to fail to pay one's debts on time

32) phv fall down, to perform disappointingly; disappoint; fail

33) phv sts fall for, Slang.

a) to be deceived by

b) to fall in love with

34) phv fall in

a) to fall to pieces toward the interior; sink inward

b) to take one's place in the ranks, as a soldier

35) phv fall in with, to start to associate with:

to fall in with bad company[/ex]

36) phv fall off

a) phv to decrease in number, amount, or intensity; diminish

b) +navig. Naut. to deviate from the heading; fall to leeward

37) phv fall on or upon

a) to assault

b) to become the obligation of

c) to experience or come upon

38) phv fall out

a) to quarrel; disagree

b) to happen; occur

c) to leave one's place in the ranks, as a soldier

39) phv fall through, to fail to be accomplished; collapse

40) phv fall to

a) to apply oneself; begin

b) to begin to eat

41) phv fall under

a) to be the concern or responsibility of

b) to be classified as; be included within

42) an act or instance of falling or dropping from a higher to a lower place or position

43) that which falls:

a heavy fall of rain[/ex]

44) the season of the year that comes after summer and before winter; autumn

45) decline:

the fall of the Roman Empire[/ex]

46) the distance through which anything falls

47) geo Usu., falls. a waterfall

48) downward slope or declivity:

the gentle rise and fall of the meadow[/ex]

49) a falling from an erect position, as to the ground:

to have a bad fall[/ex]

50) a hanging down:

a fall of wild roses on a fence[/ex]

51) a lapse into sin

52) rel the Fall, (sometimes l.c.) the lapse of human beings into a state of natural or innate sinfulness through the sin of Adam and Eve

53) surrender or capture, as of a city

54) spo Wrestling.

a) an act or instance of holding or forcing an opponent's shoulders against the mat for a specified length of time

b) a match or division of a match

55) clo a hairpiece of long hair that is attached to the natural hair at the crown and usu. hangs freely down the back of the head

56) clo an opaque veil hanging loose from a woman's hat, usu. at the back

57) clo

falling band

58) clo a decorative cascade of lace, ruffles, or the like

59) navig. the part of the rope of a tackle to which the power is applied in hoisting

60) spo

deadfall 1)

61) dch the long soft hair that hangs over the forehead and eyes of certain terriers

62) astrol. (in astrology) the sign or part of the zodiac in which the influence of a planet is most negative

(opposed to exaltation).

•

- fall (all) over oneself fall foul or afoul of

Etymology: bef. 900; ME; OE feallan; c. OFris, ON falla, OOHG fallan