die

I UK [daɪ] / US verb
Word forms "die":
present tense I/you/we/they die he/she/it dies present participle dying past tense died past participle died
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Words that may cause offence: die:

When someone has died, people usually avoid mentioning death directly when they speak to the family and friends of that person. They often say pass away or pass on instead of die, or they use indirect expressions such as "I am sorry for your loss" or "I was sorry to hear about your father/mother".

1) [intransitive/transitive] to stop being alive

My grandfather died at the age of 86.

die of/from:

She is dying of cancer.

die for:

They were ready to die for their country.

die young/happy/poor:

Tragically, Keats died young.

die a sudden/violent/natural etc death:

Several people in the village have died violent deaths.

die a millionaire/hero/coward etc:

I'm proud to tell you that your son died a hero.

2) [intransitive] to disappear, or to stop existing

Our memory of her will never die.

Coal mining is dying in this area.

3) [intransitive] to stop burning or shining

They watched the fire dying in the grate.

4) [intransitive] informal to stop operating

The car's just died on me.

•

be dying for something/to do something — spoken wanting to have/do something so much that you do not want to wait

I'm dying for a cup of coffee.

We're dying to meet your new boyfriend.

dying of boredom/hunger/thirst etc — spoken feeling very bored/hungry/thirsty etc

- die a death

- die laughing

- I nearly died

- never say die

- to die for

- would rather die

Phrasal verbs:

- die away

- die back

- die down

- die off

- die out

II UK [daɪ] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "die":
singular die plural dies

1) a block of metal used for pressing or cutting something into a shape or pattern

2) formal one of a pair of dice

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- the die is cast