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sleep
[sleep]
verb (used without object)
to take the rest afforded by a suspension of voluntary bodily functions and the natural suspension, complete or partial, of consciousness; cease being awake.
Synonyms: , , ,Botany.to assume, especially at night, a state similar to the sleep of animals, marked by closing of petals, leaves, etc.
to be dormant, quiescent, or inactive, as faculties.
to be careless or unalert; allow one's alertness, vigilance, or attentiveness to lie dormant.
While England slept, Germany prepared for war.
to lie in death.
They are sleeping in their tombs.
verb (used with object)
to take rest in (a specified kind of sleep).
He slept the sleep of the innocent.
to accommodate for sleeping; have sleeping accommodations for.
This trailer sleeps three people.
to spend or pass in sleep (usually followed by away orout ).
to sleep the day away.
to recover from the effects of (a headache, hangover, etc.) by sleeping (usually followed by off oraway ).
noun
the state of a person, animal, or plant that sleeps.
Synonyms: ,a period of sleeping.
a brief sleep.
Synonyms:dormancy or inactivity.
the repose of death.
verb phrase
to be sexual partners; have a sexual relationship.
Informalto have sexual relations with many partners, especially in a casual way; be sexually promiscuous.
to spend one or more nights in a place other than one's own home.
Two friends will sleep over this weekend.
(especially of domestic help) to sleep away from one's place of employment.
Northern_U.S.to sleep away from one's home.
to sleep outdoors.
to postpone making a decision about for at least a day.
to sleep on a proposal till the end of the week.
(especially of domestic help) to sleep where one is employed.
to sleep beyond one's usual time of arising.
to have sexual relations with.
sleep
/ ː /
noun
a periodic state of physiological rest during which consciousness is suspended and metabolic rate is decreased See also paradoxical sleep
botany the nontechnical name for nyctitropism
a period spent sleeping
a state of quiescence or dormancy
a poetic or euphemistic word for death
informalthe dried mucoid particles often found in the corners of the eyes after sleeping
verb
(intr) to be in or as in the state of sleep
(intr) (of plants) to show nyctitropism
(intr) to be inactive or quiescent
(tr) to have sleeping accommodation for (a certain number)
the boat could sleep six
to pass (time) sleeping
(intr) to fail to pay attention
poetic(intr) to be dead
to give (something) extended consideration, esp overnight
sleep
A natural, reversible state of rest in most vertebrate animals, occurring at regular intervals and necessary for the maintenance of health. During sleep, the eyes usually close, the muscles relax, and responsiveness to external stimuli decreases. Growth and repair of the tissues of the body are thought to occur, and energy is conserved and stored. In humans and certain other animals, sleep occurs in five stages, the first four consisting of non-REM sleep and the last stage consisting of REM sleep. These stages constitute a sleep cycle that repeats itself about five times during a normal episode of sleep. Each cycle is longer that the one preceding it because the length of the REM stage increases with every cycle until waking occurs. Stage I is characterized by drowsiness, Stage II by light sleep, and Stages III and IV by deep sleep. Stages II and III repeat themselves before REM sleep (Stage V), which occurs about 90 minutes after the onset of sleep. During REM sleep, dreams occur, and memory is thought to be organized. In the stages of non-REM sleep, there are no dreams, and brain activity decreases while the body recovers from wakeful activity. The amount and periodicity of sleep in humans vary with age, with infants sleeping frequently for shorter periods, and mature adults sleeping for longer uninterrupted periods.
See also non-REM sleep REM sleep
Other 51Թ Forms
- sleepful adjective
- sleeplike adjective
- antisleep adjective
- undersleep verb (used without object)
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of sleep1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of sleep1
Idioms and Phrases
put to sleep, to put (an animal) to death in a humane way.
to put a sick old dog to sleep.
Example Sentences
A drug dealer, brilliant in her business acumen, who could party all night and still seem sober, who remained tough and clear-headed well into the next afternoon on no sleep.
"They are always tired and want to sleep. They are strong because they do their homework, but they sleep much earlier than other kids would."
One Iranian told the BBC she has not been able to sleep for two nights: "I've gone through really tough situations."
She then darted over to celebrate with Charles, her husband and coach, and her two children - although youngest daughter Cecilia appeared to have slept through the match in her pushchair.
Even asking kids if they are getting a good night’s sleep can spark a wider discussion about how they are faring.
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Related 51Թs
- www.thesaurus.com
- doze
- fall asleep
- languish
- relax
- snooze
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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