a·sleep / əˈslēp/ • adj. & adv. in or into a state of sleep: [as adj.] she had been asleep for over three hours | [as adv.] Bob regularly fell asleep in his recliner. ∎  not attentive or alert; inactive: [as adj.] the competition was not asleep. ∎  (of a limb) having no feeling; numb: [as adj.] his legs were asleep. ∎ poetic/lit. used euphemistically to say that someone is dead.PHRASES: asleep at the switch (or wheel) inf. not attentive or alert; inactive.

asleep OE. on slǣpe, ME. o slepe, aslepe; see A1, SLEEP.