shutdown

[ shuht-doun ]

/ ˈʃʌtˌdaʊn /

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See synonyms for shutdown on Thesaurus.com

noun

a shutting down, as of a factory, school, or machine; a termination or suspension of operations, services, or business activity: a partial government shutdown;an emergency shutdown of a nuclear reactor.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of shutdown

1855–60, Americanism; noun use of verb phrase shut down

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use shutdown in a sentence

“I was really sexually inexperienced, really sexually shut down,” she explained.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And so it was that the federal government did not shut down just when we all had visions of sugar plumbs dancing in our heads.
Congress’ Gift That Keeps on Giving|P. J. O’Rourke|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Human trials of the Ebola vaccine have been temporarily shut down due to adverse side effects.
Uh Oh: Ebola Vaccine Trials Stop|Leigh Cowart|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Over the years, several MPs have alleged cover-ups or suggested that investigations were shut down by senior security officials.
Victim: I Watched British MPs Rape and Murder Young Boys|Nico Hines|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Last week members helped shut down the West Side Highway, a major roadway in New York.
Eric Garner Protesters Have a Direct Line to City Hall|Jacob Siegel|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Swift and straight she flew and suddenly Chet roared to Lance to shut down, and the propeller groaningly stopped.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison
Then night came, and just after the darkness shut down the patrol craft returned, beating up along the winding river bed.
The Stars, My Brothers|Edmond Hamilton
The world's trade has been paralyzed; as a result, most of the stock exchanges of the world have had to shut down.
Ways of War and Peace|Delia Austrian
Hollister saw that he would be unable to extend his operations until deep snow shut down some of the northern camps that fall.
The Hidden Places|Bertrand W. Sinclair
At last the maneuver was completed and the engines shut down to stand-by.
The Status Civilization|Robert Sheckley

British Dictionary definitions for shutdown

shutdown

/ (ˈʃʌtˌdaʊn) /

noun

the closing of a factory, shop, etc
(as modifier)shutdown costs

verb shut down (adverb)

to cease or cause to cease operation

(tr) to close by lowering

(tr) (of fog) to descend and envelop

(intr; foll by on or upon) informal to put a stop to; clamp down on

(tr) to reduce the power level of (a nuclear reactor) to the lowest possible value

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with shutdown

shut down

See close down, def. 1.

Stop or switch off machinery, as in They shut down all the machines for one week a year. [Late 1800s]

shutdown

Origin of shutdown

Words related to shutdown

How to use shutdown in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for shutdown

Other Idioms and Phrases with shutdown