death

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n.

1. The end of life; the permanent cessation of vital bodily functions, as manifested in humans by the loss of heartbeat, the absence of spontaneous breathing, and brain death.

1. The end of life of an organism or cell. In humans and animals, death is manifested by the permanent cessation of vital organic functions, including the absence of heartbeat, spontaneous breathing, and brain activity. Cells die as a result of external injury or by an orderly, programmed series of self-destructive events known as apoptosis. The most common causes of death for humans in well-developed countries are cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, certain chronic diseases such as diabetes and emphysema, lung infections, and accidents. See also brain death.

In addition to the idioms beginning with death

• death and taxes, certain as
• death knell
• death of
• death on

also see:

• at death’s door
• be the death of
• bore to death
• catch cold (one’s death)
• fate worse than death
• in at the death
• kiss of death
• look like death (warmed over)
• matter of life and death
• put to death
• scare out of one’s wits (to death)
• sign one’s own death warrant
• thrill to pieces (to death)
• tickled pink (to death)
• to death

Also see underdead.