day

¹ American  

[dey] / deɪ /

noun

1. the interval of light between two successive nights; the time between sunrise and sunset.

   Since there was no artificial illumination, all activities had to be carried on during the day.

2. the light of day; daylight.

   The owl sleeps by day and feeds by night.

3. Astronomy.

   1. Also called mean solar day.  a division of time equal to 24 hours and representing the average length of the period during which the earth makes one rotation on its axis.

   2. Also called solar day.  a division of time equal to the time elapsed between two consecutive returns of the same terrestrial meridian to the sun.

   3. Also called civil day.  a division of time equal to 24 hours but reckoned from one midnight to the next.

4. an analogous division of time for a planet other than the earth.

   the Martian day.

5. the portion of a day allotted to work.

   an eight-hour day.

6. a day on which something occurs.

   the day we met.

7. (often initial capital letter)  a day assigned to a particular purpose or observance.

   New Year's Day.

8. a time considered as propitious or opportune.

   His day will come.

9. a day of contest or the contest itself.

   to win the day.

10. Often a particular time or period.

    the present day; in days of old.

11. Usually period of life or activity.

    His days are numbered.

12. period of existence, power, or influence.

    in the day of the dinosaurs.

13. Architecture.  light.

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idioms

1. day in, day out,  every day without fail; regularly: Also day in and day out

   They endured the noise and dirt of the city day in, day out.

2. day and night.  night.

3. call it a day,  to stop one's activity for the day or for the present; quit temporarily.

   After rewriting the paper, she decided to call it a day.

Day ² American  

[dey] / deɪ /

noun

1. Benjamin Henry, 1810–89, U.S. newspaper publisher.

2. Clarence (Shepard) 1874–1935, U.S. author.

3. Dorothy, 1897–1980, U.S. Roman Catholic social activist, journalist, and publisher.

4. Also Daye Stephen, 1594?–1668, U.S. colonist, born in England: considered the first printer in the Colonies.

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day ¹ British  

/ deɪ /

noun

1. Also called: civil day.  the period of time, the calendar day, of 24 hours' duration reckoned from one midnight to the next

2. 1. the period of light between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from the night

   2. ( as modifier )

      the day shift

3. the part of a day occupied with regular activity, esp work

   he took a day off

4. (sometimes plural) a period or point in time

   he was a good singer in his day

   in days gone by

   any day now

5. the period of time, the sidereal day, during which the earth makes one complete revolution on its axis relative to a particular star. The mean sidereal day lasts 23 hours 56 minutes 4.1 seconds of the mean solar day

6. the period of time, the solar day, during which the earth makes one complete revolution on its axis relative to the sun. The mean solar day is the average length of the apparent solar day and is some four minutes (3 minutes 56.5 seconds of sidereal time) longer than the sidereal day

7. the period of time taken by a specified planet to make one complete rotation on its axis

   the Martian day

8. (often capital) a day designated for a special observance, esp a holiday

   Christmas Day

9. part of one's normal activity; no trouble

10. in the final reckoning

11. the Sabbath; Sunday

12. to pass the end of one's life

13. one's luck will come

14. nowadays

15. it's too early to tell how things will turn out

16. 1. very late (in a particular situation)

    2. too late

17. 1. I look forward to that

    2. that is most unlikely to happen

18. a time of success, recognition, power, etc

    his day will soon come

19. a struggle or issue at hand

    the day is lost

20. 1. the ground surface over a mine

    2. ( as modifier )

       the day level

21. without thinking of the future

22. to stop work or other activity

23. without respite; relentlessly

24. gradually or progressively; daily

    he weakened day by day

25. every day and all day long

26. from the very beginning

27. at some future time

28. (modifier) of, relating to, or occurring in the day

    the day shift

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Day ² British  

/ deɪ /

noun

1. Sir Robin. 1923–2000, British radio and television journalist, noted esp for his political interviews

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day Scientific  

/ dā /

1. See under sidereal time solar day

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day More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing day

• Rome wasn't built in a day
• all in a day's work
• any day
• apple a day
• bad hair day
• break of day
• by the day
• call it a day
• carry the day
• different as night and day
• dog days
• every dog has its day
• field day
• for days on end
• forever and a day
• from this day forward
• good day
• had its day
• happy as the day is long
• heavenly days
• in all one's born days
• in the cold light of day
• in this day and age
• late in the day
• make a day of it
• make one's day
• name the day
• night and day
• not give someone the time of day
• not one's day
• one of these days
• order of the day
• pass the time (of day)
• plain as day
• rainy day
• red-letter day
• salad days
• save the day
• see the light of day
• seen better days
• that'll be the day
• the other day
• time of day
• tomorrow is another day
• win through (the day)

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Other Word Forms

• half-day noun
• preday noun

Etymology

Origin of day

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English dæg; cognate with German Tag

Example Sentences

Did you know that one day on this asteroid lasts only five minutes?

From Space Scoop

When things look bleak in Hollywood, it is often a sequel that saves the day.

From MarketWatch

If all goes well, the coach secured with a proven approach could lead to a return to happier days.

From Los Angeles Times

People do indeed get fired in Hollywood every day; it’s not some world-altering event.

From Salon

“Remained in bed entire day. Still refuses to talk to anyone.”

From Salon

Related Words

• period
• term
• time