die¹ / dī/ • v. (dy·ing / ˈdīing/ ) [intr.] 1. (of a person, animal, or plant) stop living: she died of cancer | the sheep died from the heat | [tr.] the king died a violent death. ∎  (die for) be killed for (a cause): they were prepared to die for their country. ∎  have a specified status at the time of one's death: the inventor died a pauper. ∎  (die out) become extinct: many species died out. ∎  be forgotten: her genius has assured her name will never die. ∎  become less loud or strong: after a while, the noise died down | at last the storm died away. ∎  (die back) (of a plant) decay from the tip toward the root: rhubarb dies back to a crown of buds each winter. ∎  (die off) die one after another until few or none are left: the original founders died off or retired. ∎  be no longer under the influence of something: we died to our former selves. ∎  (of a fire or light) stop burning or gleaming. ∎ inf. (of a machine) stop functioning: three toasters have died on me. ∎ poetic/lit. have an orgasm.2. inf. used to emphasize that one wants to do or have something very much: they must be dying for a drink | he's dying to meet you. ∎ inf. used to emphasize how keenly one feels something: I'm simply dying of thirst.3. inf. used to emphasize feelings of shock, embarrassment, amusement, or misery: I nearly died when I saw them we nearly died laughing when he told us.PHRASES: die hard disappear or change very slowly: old habits die hard.die on the vine be unsuccessful at an early stage.never say die used to encourage someone in a difficult situation.to die for inf. extremely good or desirable: the ice cream is to die for.die² • n. 1. singular form of dice. ∎  Archit. the cubical part of a pedestal between the base and the cornice; a dado or plinth.2. (pl. dies) a device for cutting or molding metal into a particular shape. ∎  an engraved device for stamping a design on coins or medals.PHRASES: the die is cast an event has happened or a decision has been made that cannot be changed. (as) straight as a die absolutely straight.