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fall
intransitive verb1 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 lambs3 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 chastity6 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>11: strike
, impinge <music falling on the ear>transitive verb: fell 1
— fall all over oneself or fall over oneself or fall over backward
: to display great or excessive eagerness
— fall apart
— fall behind
1: to lag behind2: 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 with2: 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 deficient2: to fail to attain something (as a goal or target)
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