fine, soft, hairy outgrowth from the skin or surface of animals or plants, not matted and fleecy like wool-the soft under feathers of birds. they have short stems with soft rachis and bards and long threadlike barbules, without hooklets.-the pubescence of plants; the hairy crown or envelope of the seeds of certain plants, as of the thistle.-the soft hair of the face when beginning to appear.-that which is made of down, as a bed or pillow; that which affords ease and repose, like a bed of down-to cover, ornament, line, or stuff with down.-a bank or rounded hillock of sand thrown up by the wind along or near the shore; a flattish-topped hill; -- usually in the plural.-a tract of poor, sandy, undulating or hilly land near the sea, covered with fine turf which serves chiefly for the grazing of sheep; -- usually in the plural.-a road for shipping in the english channel or straits of dover, near deal, employed as a naval rendezvous in time of war.-a state of depression; low state; abasement.-in the direction of gravity or toward the center of the earth; toward or in a lower place or position; below; -- the opposite of up.-from a higher to a lower position, literally or figuratively; in a descending direction; from the top of an ascent; from an upright position; to the ground or floor; to or into a lower or an inferior condition; as, into a state of humility, disgrace, misery, and the like; into a state of rest; -- used with verbs indicating motion.-in a low or the lowest position, literally or figuratively; at the bottom of a decent; below the horizon; of the ground; in a condition of humility, dejection, misery, and the like; in a state of quiet.-from a remoter or higher antiquity.-from a greater to a less bulk, or from a thinner to a thicker consistence; as, to boil down in cookery, or in making decoctions.-in a descending direction along; from a higher to a lower place upon or within; at a lower place in or on; as, down a hill; down a well.-hence: towards the mouth of a river; towards the sea; as, to sail or swim down a stream; to sail down the sound.-to cause to go down; to make descend; to put down; to overthrow, as in wrestling; hence, to subdue; to bring down.-to go down; to descend.-downcast; as, a down look.-downright; absolute; positive; as, a down denial.-downward; going down; sloping; as, a down stroke; a down grade; a down train on a railway.