down¹ / doun/ • adv. 1. toward or in a lower place or position, esp. to or on the ground or another surface: she looked down | the sun started to go down | he put his glass down | she flicked the switch up and down| he swung the ax to chop down the tree. ∎  at or to a specified distance below: you can plainly see the bottom 35 feet down. ∎  downstairs: I went down to put the kettle on. ∎  expressing movement or position away from the north: they're living down south. ∎  to or at a place perceived as lower (often expressing casualness or lack of hurry): I'd rather be down at the villa | I'm going down to the arcade. ∎  (with reference to food or drink swallowed) in or into the stomach: she couldn't keep anything down. ∎  so as to lie or be fixed flush or flat: she stuck down a Christmas label. ∎  [as interj.] used as a command to a person or animal to sit or lie down: down, boy! ∎  a crossword answer that reads vertically: how many letters in fifteen down?2. to or at a lower level of intensity, volume, or activity: keep the noise down| the panic was dying down | at night it would cool down. ∎  to or at a lower price, value, or rank: output was down by 20 percent| soup is down from 59 cents to 49 cents. ∎  to a finer consistency, a smaller amount or size, or a simpler or more basic state: I must slim down a bit | a formal statement that can't be edited down | thin down an oil-based paint with spirits. ∎  from an earlier to a later point in time or order: everyone, from the president down to the guy selling hot dogs, is outraged.3. in or into a weaker or worse position, mood, or condition: the scandal brought down the government | he was down with the flu. ∎  losing or at a disadvantage by a specified amount: the Braves, down 7–6, rallied for two runs in the sixth inning. ∎  used to express progress through a series of tasks or items: one down and only six more to go. ∎  (of a computer system) out of action or unavailable for use (esp. temporarily): the system went down yesterday. ∎  (down with ——) shouted to express strong dislike of a specified person or thing: crowds chanted “Down with bureaucracy!”4. in or into writing: I just write down whatever comes into my head | taking down notes. ∎  on or on to a list, schedule, or record: I'll put you down for the evening shift.5. (with reference to partial payment of a sum of money) made initially or on the spot: pay $500 down and the rest at the end of the month.6. (of sailing) with the current or the wind. ∎  (of a ship's helm) moved around to leeward so that the rudder is to windward and the vessel swings toward the wind.7. Football (of the ball or a player in possession) not in play, typically because forward progress has been stopped.• prep. 1. from a higher to a lower point of (something): up and down the stairs | tears streaming down her face. ∎  at or to a lower part of (a river or stream); nearer the sea: a dozen miles or so down the Mississippi. ∎  at a point further along the course of (something): he lived down the street. ∎  along the course or extent of: I wandered down the road | an incision down the middle. ∎ inf. at or to (a place): tired of going down the pub every night.2. throughout (a period of time): astrologers down the ages.• adj. 1. directed or moving toward a lower place or position: the down escalator| click on the down arrow. ∎  Physics denoting a flavor of quark having a charge of −¹/₃. Protons and neutrons are thought to be composed of combinations of up and down quarks.2. (of a person) unhappy; depressed: he's been so down lately. ∎  inf. (of a period of time) causing or characterized by unhappiness or depression: of course, there were up days and down days.3. (of a computer system) temporarily out of action or unavailable: sorry, but the computer's down.4. chiefly slang supporting or going along with someone or something: “You going to the movies?” “Yo, I'm down.” ∎  aware of and following the latest fashion: a seriously down, hip-hop homie.• v. [tr.] inf. 1. knock or bring to the ground: 175 enemy aircraft had been downed | he struck Slater on the face, downing him.2. consume (something, typically a drink): he downed five pints of cider. ∎  (of a golfer) sink (a putt).• n. 1. Football a chance for a team to advance the ball, ending when the ball carrier is tackled or the ball becomes out of play. A team must advance at least ten yards in a series of four downs in order to keep possession.2. (downs) inf. unwelcome experiences or events: there had been more downs than ups during his years at the company.3. inf. a feeling or period of unhappiness or depression: everyone gets their downs, their depressive periods. ∎ inf. short for downer (sense 1).PHRASES: be down on inf. disapprove of; feel hostile or antagonistic toward.be down to1. be attributable to (a particular factor or circumstance): he claimed his problems were down to the media. ∎  be the responsibility of (a particular person): it's down to you to make sure the boiler receives regular servicing.2. be left with only (the specified amount): I'm down to my last few dollars.down in the mouth inf. (of a person or their expression) unhappy; dejected.down on one's luck inf. experiencing a period of bad luck.down pat (or cold) memorized or mastered perfectly: she had the baby's medical routine down pat| a guy who has his art history down cold.have (or put) someone/something down as judge someone or something to be (a particular type): I never had Jake down as a ladies' man.down to the ground inf. completely:down² • n. soft fine fluffy feathers that form the first covering of a young bird or an insulating layer below the contour feathers of an adult bird. ∎  such feathers taken from ducks or their nests and used for stuffing cushions, quilts, etc.; eiderdown. ∎  fine soft hair on the face or body of a person: the little girl had a covering of golden down on her head. ∎  short soft hairs on some leaves, fruit, or seeds.down³ • n. (usu. downs) a gently rolling hill: the gentle green contours of the downs. ∎  (the Downs) ridges of undulating chalk and limestone hills in southern England, with few trees and used mainly for pasture.

Down was one of the six counties of Northern Ireland before the local government reorganization of 1973. Its boundary to the north is the Lagan; to the south, with the Irish Republic, Carlingford Lough; and across to Armagh in the west, with the Newry canal as boundary. The Mountains of Mourne are in the south-west corner. There was a diocese of Down from the early 12th cent., with the headquarters at Downpatrick, where the cathedral dates from 1790. The chief town is Newry, close to the border, and the seat of the Roman catholic bishopric of Dromore. The land is good grazing, there is fishing from the coast, and Bangor is a seaside resort. The catholic population is largely in the south of the county and at the general election of 2005, the UUP retained Down North, the SDLP retained Down South, the DUP held Strangford, and Sinn Fein gained Newry and Armagh.

J. A. Cannon

down The name applied to grassland in the lowland zone of Britain, which has been created and maintained by grazing. Typically such grassland occurs on chalk and limestone hills, but occasionally it is found on acidic rocks, such as the Old Red Sandstone of the Gower Peninsula in southern Wales.

down The name applied to grassland in the lowland zone of Britain, which has been created and maintained by grazing. Typically such grassland occurs on chalk and limestone hills, but occasionally it is found on acidic rocks, such as the Old Red Sandstone of the Gower Peninsula in southern Wales.

Down District on the Irish Sea coast, se Northern Ireland; the administrative centre is Downpatrick. Anglo-Normans invaded (12th century), and 16th and 17th century English and Scottish settlers made their home here. A hilly region, the Mountains of Mourne lie in the s. Agriculture dominates, such as livestock and crop farming. Industries: agricultural machinery and textiles. Area: 650sq km (250sq mi). Pop. (1997) 62,000.