Die
/daɪ/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo stop living; to experience the end of life.
/daɪ/
To cease to live; to undergo death.
The flowers died from lack of water.
💡 Simply: When someone's body stops working, it's called dying. Like when a plant doesn't get water and it withers and dies.
👶 For kids: When a person or animal stops being alive.
More Examples
He died of a sudden heart attack.
She died a hero's death.
How It's Used
"The old man died peacefully in his sleep."
"The patient's condition worsened, and he eventually died."
A small cube with numbers on each side, used in games and for gambling.
/daɪ/
A small cube with numbered sides, used in games of chance.
Roll the die and move your game piece.
💡 Simply: It’s like a little cube with numbers you roll to play games.
👶 For kids: A little square with dots on it that you roll to play games.
More Examples
He threw the die and got a six.
The result of the die determined his fate.
How It's Used
"Roll the die to move your piece."
"He wagered his money on the roll of the die."
To cease or fail to function; to come to an end.
/daɪ/
To stop functioning; to lose force or effectiveness.
The excitement died down after the announcement.
💡 Simply: This is a way of saying something like a feeling or a situation disappears.
👶 For kids: This is used when something stops working or disappears.
More Examples
Their love slowly died.
The music died away.
How It's Used
"Their hope died as the news sunk in."
Idioms & expressions
to die for
Extremely good or desirable; worth dying for.
"That chocolate cake is to die for!"
to die laughing
To laugh extremely hard; to be overcome with laughter.
"The comedian was so funny, I almost died laughing."
From Old Norse *deyja* or Old English *dīeġan*, both from Proto-Germanic *dawjaną*. Related to words for 'death' across various Indo-European languages.
Used since Old English, and is a common term to describe ceasing to live. Has evolved and is now used in both literal and figurative senses.
Memory tip
Imagine a light fading out – that's what happens when you die.