Definition of "fall" in 英语

verb

1. (heading, intransitive) To be moved downwards.

2. (transitive) To move downwards.

3. (intransitive) To change, often negatively.

4. To occur (on a certain day of the week, date, or similar); to happen.

   • Thanksgiving always falls on a Thursday.
   • Last year, Commencement fell on June 3.

5. (intransitive) To be allotted to; to arrive through chance, fate, or inheritance.

   • And so it falls to me to make this important decision.
   • The estate fell to his brother.
   • The kingdom fell into the hands of his rivals.

6. (transitive, obsolete) To diminish; to lessen or lower.

7. (transitive, obsolete) To bring forth.

   • to fall lambs

8. (intransitive, obsolete) To issue forth into life; to be brought forth; said of the young of certain animals.

9. (intransitive) To descend in character or reputation; to become degraded; to sink into vice, error, or sin.

10. (intransitive) To become ensnared or entrapped; to be worse off than before.

    • to fall into error;  to fall into difficulties

11. (intransitive) To assume a look of shame or disappointment; to become or appear dejected; said of the face.

12. (intransitive) To happen; to come to pass; to chance or light (upon).

    • 1879, Herbert Spencer, Principles of Sociology Volume II – Part IV: Ceremonial Institutions Primitive men […] do not make laws, they fall into customs.

13. (intransitive) To begin with haste, ardour, or vehemence; to rush or hurry.

    • After arguing, they fell to blows.
    • They now no longer doubted, but fell to work heart and soul.

14. (intransitive) To be dropped or uttered carelessly.

    • An unguarded expression fell from his lips.

15. (intransitive, of a fabric) To hang down (under the influence of gravity).

    • An Empire-style dress has a high waistline – directly under the bust – from which the dress falls all the way to a hem as low as the floor.

16. (intransitive, slang, African-American Vernacular) To visit; to go to a place.

    • We'll fall over to the club tonight.

noun

1. The act of moving to a lower position under the effect of gravity.

   • the fall of the snow