verb
1. move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way (Freq. 14)
-
The temperature is going down
-
The barometer is falling
-
The curtain fell on the diva
-
Her hand went up and then fell again
• Derivationally related forms: ↑fall (for: ↑fall), ↑descendant (for: ↑descend), ↑descendent (for: ↑descend), ↑descent (for: ↑descend)
• Hyponyms:
↑prolapse, ↑rappel, ↑abseil, ↑rope down, ↑unhorse, ↑dismount, ↑light, ↑get off, ↑get down, ↑avalanche, ↑roll down, ↑dive, ↑plunge, ↑plunk, ↑set, ↑go down, ↑go under, ↑decline, ↑slump, ↑correct, ↑precipitate, ↑sink, ↑subside, ↑crash, ↑flop, ↑tumble, ↑topple, ↑drop, ↑plop, ↑pitch, ↑alight, ↑climb down, ↑settle, ↑pounce, ↑swoop, ↑drip, ↑cascade, ↑cascade down
• Verb Frames:
-
Something ——s
-
Somebody ——s
-
The airplane is sure to come down
2. be the essential element (Freq. 2)
-
The proposal boils down to a compromise
• Verb Frames:
-
Something is ——ing PP
3. fall from clouds (Freq. 1)
-
rain, snow and sleet were falling
-
Vesuvius precipitated its fiery, destructive rage on Herculaneum
• Syn: ↑precipitate, ↑fall
• Derivationally related forms: ↑precipitation (for: ↑precipitate)
• Verb Group: ↑fall
• Verb Frames:
-
Something ——s
-
Somebody ——s something
4. get sick (Freq. 1)
-
She fell sick last Friday, and now she is in the hospital
• Syn: ↑sicken
• Verb Frames:
-
Somebody ——s
5. criticize or reprimand harshly
-
The critics came down hard on the new play
• Hypernyms: ↑knock, ↑criticize, ↑criticise, ↑pick apart
• Verb Frames:
-
Somebody ——s PP
Useful english dictionary. 2012.