Definition of: fall

(fôl) v. fell, fall·en, fall·ing v.i.
1. To drop from a higher to a lower place or position because of removal of support or loss of hold or attachment.
2. To drop from an erect to a less erect or prone position: He fell to his knees.
3. To collapse; come down: The bridge fell.
4. To become less in height, number, force, volume, value, etc.
5. To descend or become less in rank, estimation, importance, etc.
6. To be wounded or slain, as in battle.
7. To be overthrown; lose power, as a government.
8. To be taken or captured: The fort fell.
9. To yield to temptation; sin.
10. To hit; land: The bombs fell short.
11. To slope downward: The road falls into the valley.
12. To hang down; droop.
13. To begin and continue: Night fell.
14. To pass into a state or condition: to fall asleep.
15. To experience or show dejection: His face fell.
16. To come or happen by chance or lot: Suspicion fell on him.
17. To happen; occur: Hallowe'en falls on Tuesday.
18. To pass by right or inheritance, as an estate.
19. To be uttered as if accidentally: An oath fell from his lips.
20. To be born, as a lamb.
21. To happen or come at a specific place: The accent falls on the last syllable.
22. To be classified or divided: with into.
—v.t.
23. U.S. To fell or cut down, as a tree.
—to fall afoul (or foul) of
1. To collide with, as a vessel.
2. To quarrel or argue with.
—to fall away
1. To become lean or emaciated.
2. To die; decline.
—to fall away from To renounce allegiance to.
—to fall back To recede; retreat.
—to fall back on (or upon)
1. Mil. To retreat to.
2. To resort to; have recourse to.
—to fall behind
1. To drop back; lose ground.
2. To be in arrears.
—to fall down on U.S. Slang To fail in.
—to fall flat To fail to produce the intended effect or result.
—to fall for U.S. Colloq.
1. To be deceived by.
2. To fall in love with.
—to fall in Mil. To take proper place in a formation or group.
—to fall in with
1. To meet and accompany.
2. To agree with; conform to.
—to fall off
1. To leave or withdraw.
2. To become less: Attendance is falling off.
3. Naut. To veer to leeward from the former course.
—to fall on (or upon)
1. To attack; assail.
2. To find; discover.
—to fall out
1. To quarrel.
2. To happen; result.
3. Mil. To leave ranks.
—to fall through To come to nothing; fail.
—adjective
1. Of or pertaining to autumn; happening, or for use in, the fall of the year: fall weather, fall planting, a fall coat.
2. Slang Easily duped: a fall guy.
—noun
1. The act, process, or result of falling, in any sense of the word: the fall of Adam, a fall in price, the fall of Rome.
2. Usually plural A waterfall; cataract; cascade.
3. A flowing or discharge, as of one stream or body of water into another.
4. That which falls or is caused to fall; also, the amount of descent.
5. Often cap. The season coming between summer and winter; autumn.
6. A falling band or ruff for the neck; also, a veil.
7. In wrestling, the throwing of or being thrown by one's opponent, or the method of doing it.
8. That which acts by falling, as a deadfall.
9. In music and oratory, a cadence; a sinking of tone or decrease of volume of sound.
10. A hoisting rope, or the part of a hoisting rope or tackle to which power is applied or by which power is exerted; the rope of a tackle or purchase.
11. The birth of animals. See synonyms under RUIN.
—the fall of man The disobedience of Adam and Eve. [OE feallan] Synonyms (verb): decline, descend, droop, drop, fail, faint, lapse, set, sink, subside. See HAPPEN. Antonyms: ascend, climb, mount, rise, soar.