First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1fall
verb \ˈfȯl\
: to come or go down quickly from a high place or position
: to come or go down suddenly from a standing position
: to let yourself come or go down to a lower position
fell \ˈfel\ fall·en \ˈfȯ-lən\ fall·ing
Full Definition of FALL
intransitive verb
1
a : to descend freely by the force of gravity b : to hang freely <her hair falls over her shoulders> c : to drop oneself to a lower position <fell to his knees> d : to come or go as if by falling <darkness falls early in the winter>
2
: to become born —usually used of lambs
3
a : to become lower in degree or level <the temperature fell 10°> b : to drop in pitch or volume <their voices fell to a whisper> c : issue 1a, b <wisdom that fell from his lips> d : to become lowered <her eyes fell>
4
a : to leave an erect position suddenly and involuntarily <slipped and fell on the ice> b : to enter as if unawares : stumble, stray <fell into error> c : to drop down wounded or dead; especially : to die in battle d : to suffer military capture <after a long siege the city fell> e : to lose office <the party fell from power> f : to suffer ruin, defeat, or failure <the deal fell through>
5
: to commit an immoral act; especially : to lose one's chastity
6
a : to move or extend in a downward direction <the land falls away to the east> b : subside, abate <the wind is falling> c : to decline in quality, activity, or quantity <production fell off> d : to lose weight —used with off or away e : to assume a look of shame, disappointment, or dejection <his face fell> f : to decline in financial value or price <stocks fell sharply>
7
a : to occur at a certain time <her birthday falls on a Monday this year> b : to come by chance <a job that fell into his hands> c : to come or pass by lot, assignment, or inheritance : devolve <it fell to him to break the news> d : to have a certain or proper position, place, or station <the accent falls on the second syllable>
8
: to come within the limits, scope, or jurisdiction of something <this word falls into the class of verbs>
9
: to pass suddenly and passively into a state of body or mind or a new state or condition <fall asleep> <fall in love>
10
: to set about heartily or actively <fell to work>
transitive verb
: fell 1
— fall all over oneself or fall over oneself or fall over backward
: to display great or excessive eagerness
— fall apart
1
2
: to succumb to mental or emotional stress : break down
— fall behind
1
: to lag behind
2
: to be in arrears
— fall between two stools
: to fail because of inability to choose between or reconcile two alternative or conflicting courses of action
— fall flat
: to produce no response or result <the joke fell flat>
— fall for
1
: to fall in love with
2
: to become a victim of <fell for the trick>
— fall from grace
: backslide 1
— fall home
: to curve inward —used of the timbers or upper parts of a ship's side
— fall into line
: to comply with a certain course of action
— fall on or fall upon
: to meet with <fell on hard times>
— fall on one's face
: to fail utterly <the movie fell on its face at the box office>
— fall on one's sword
: to sacrifice one's pride or position
— fall short
1
: to be deficient
2
: to fail to attain something (as a goal or target)
See fall defined for English-language learners
See fall defined for kids
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Origin of FALL
Middle English, from Old English feallan; akin to Old High German fallan to fall and perhaps to Lithuanian pulti
2fall
noun
Definition of FALL
1
: the act of falling by the force of gravity
2
a : a falling out, off, or away : dropping <the fall of leaves> <a fall of snow> b : the season when leaves fall from trees : autumn c : a thing or quantity that falls or has fallen <a fall of rock at the base of the cliff>; especially : one or more meteorites or their fragments that have fallen together d (1) : birth (2) : the quantity born —usually used of lambs
3
a : a costume decoration of lace or thin fabric arranged to hang loosely and gracefully b : a very wide turned-down collar worn in the 17th century c : the part of a turnover collar from the crease to the outer edge d : a wide front flap on trousers (as those worn by sailors) e : the freely hanging lower edge of the skirt of a coat f : one of the three outer and often drooping segments of the flower of an iris g : long hair overhanging the face of dogs of some breeds h : a usually long straight portion of hair that is attached to a person's own hair
4
: a hoisting-tackle rope or chain; especially : the part of it to which the power is applied
5
a : loss of greatness : collapse <the fall of the Roman Empire> b : the surrender or capture of a besieged place <the fall of Troy> c : lapse or departure from innocence or goodness d : loss of a woman's chastity e : the blame for a failure or misdeed <took the fall for the robbery>
6
7
: a decrease in size, quantity, degree, or value
8
a : the distance which something falls b : inclination, pitch
9
a : the act of felling something b : the quantity of trees cut down c (1) : an act of forcing a wrestler's shoulders to the mat for a specified time (as one second) (2) : a bout of wrestling
See fall defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of FALL
13th century
Other Calendar Terms
3fall
adjective
Definition of FALL
: of, relating to, or suitable for autumn <a new fall coat>
First Known Use of FALL
1677
FALL Defined for Kids
1fall
verb \ˈfȯl\
fell \ˈfel\fall·en \ˈfȯ-lən\fall·ing
Definition of FALL for Kids
1
: to come or go down freely by the force of gravity <An apple fell from the tree.>
2
: to come as if by falling <Night fell before we got home.>
3
: to become lower (as in degree or value) <The temperature fell ten degrees.>
4
: to topple from an upright position <The tree fell.>
5
: to collapse wounded or dead <Too many soldiers have fallen in battle.>
6
: to become captured <The city fell to the enemy.>
7
: to occur at a certain time <This year my birthday falls on a Monday.>
8
: to pass from one condition of body or mind to another <fall asleep> <fall ill>
— fall back
: 2retreat 1 <“… the Witch and her crew will … fall back to her house and prepare for a siege.” — C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe>
— fall short
: to fail to be as good or successful as expected <The sequel to my favorite movie fell short.>
2fall
noun
Definition of FALL for Kids
1
: the act or an instance of going or coming down by the force of gravity <a fall from a horse>
2
: autumn
3
: a thing or quantity that falls <a heavy fall of snow>
4
: a loss of greatness : downfall <the fall of an empire>
5
: waterfall —usually used in pl. <Niagara Falls>
6
: a decrease in size, amount, or value <a fall in prices>
7
: the distance something falls <a fall of three feet>
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