dead

UK: dɛd | US: dɛd

Definition

  1. adj. no longer alive

  2. adj. completely inactive or inoperative

  3. adj. lacking vitality or brightness

  4. n. (the dead) deceased people collectively

Structure
dead <no longer alive>
Etymology

The word "dead" originates from Old English dēad, meaning "lifeless," which itself derives from Proto-Germanic daudaz. This root is shared with other Germanic languages (e.g., German tot, Dutch dood). The term has retained its core meaning of "absence of life" for over a millennium, with metaphorical extensions (e.g., "dead battery") emerging later.

Examples

  1. The flowers in the vase are dead.

  2. The battery is dead; we need to replace it.

  3. The party was dead after midnight.

  4. Archaeologists discovered dead languages in ancient texts.

  5. The dead were honored in a solemn ceremony.