death
/deθ/ (bre, ipa) · /deθ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdeth/ (ame, mw)
death — noun
- deathsingular
- deathsplural
1. the moment when a living creature's body stops working forever and life ends com
the moment when a living creature's body stops working forever and life ends completely
The paramedics tried to revive her, but the cause of death was a massive heart attack.
cause of death — common phrase for medical/legal context
Ryo's grandfather passed away peacefully, and the family gathered in Tokyo to honour his death.
In many countries, a doctor must sign a death certificate before the body can be moved.
The old mango tree's sudden death surprised the village — it had looked healthy a month before.
文法句型
death + of + [person/animal]
die a + adjective + death
用法筆記
This sense can refer to the death of any living organism, not only humans. The phrase 'cause of death' is extremely common in medical and legal English.
常見錯誤
2. used after adjectives such as 'bored', 'scared', or 'tired' to mean 'extremely'
used after adjectives such as 'bored', 'scared', or 'tired' to mean 'extremely' or 'to an unbearable degree'
Hannah was bored to death during the three-hour lecture on soil composition.
bored to death — most common intensifier use
Little Mateo was scared to death of the loud fireworks on New Year's Eve.
scared to death — expressing extreme fear
After ten years of the same daily routine, Sari felt sick to death of her office job.
The children were tickled to death when the clown pulled a live rabbit out of his hat.
- extremely
neutral, works across all registers
- to bits / to pieces
British informal alternative, as in 'thrilled to bits'
文法句型
[adjective] + to death
用法筆記
Only a limited set of adjectives commonly combine with 'to death': bored, scared, frightened, tired, sick, tickled. This pattern is informal and would sound unnatural in formal academic writing.
常見錯誤
3. continuing up to the moment someone dies; used in fixed phrases that emphasise l
continuing up to the moment someone dies; used in fixed phrases that emphasise loyalty, determination, or a struggle that only ends when one person dies
The two rival gangs fought to the death over control of the neighbourhood market.
fight to the death — physical struggle ending only when one side dies
Constanza remained faithful unto death to the promises she had made to her late husband.
faithful unto death — expressing lifelong loyalty
The defenders knew they must hold the bridge to the death or the enemy would take the city.
Nia swore she would defend her family's farm to the death against the land developers.
- to the bitter end
similar determination but does not necessarily involve literal death
- for life
same meaning of permanence but without the violent struggle connotation
文法句型
to the death
unto death
fight + to the death
用法筆記
This sense appears almost exclusively in set phrases. It is often used dramatically and may sound old-fashioned in everyday conversation outside of fixed expressions like 'fight to the death'.
常見錯誤
4. a person, thing, or event that causes the end of a person's life, or the complet
a person, thing, or event that causes the end of a person's life, or the complete destruction or failure of something that is not alive, such as a business, tradition, or plan
The opening of the big supermarket was the death of the small grocery shops in the town.
the death of [business] — the cause of failure
Polluted well water proved to be the death of many early settlers in the region.
Cheap streaming services with original shows have spelled the death of many traditional cable television channels.
The new highway through the forest will mean the death of several endangered species living there.
- ruin
focuses on financial or social collapse; less final than 'death'
- destruction
more violent and physical; suggests active demolition
- downfall
suggests a fall from a previous high position
文法句型
the death + of + [something]
be the death of + [someone/something]
用法筆記
When used in 'be the death of [someone]', this phrase is often light-hearted in modern conversation ('This job will be the death of me!'), but in literary or news contexts it can be literal and serious.