Down

Down is a term with several distinct meanings in English. As a direction or position, down indicates movement toward a lower place or a lower level, or location beneath something. It is used as an adverb and preposition in phrases such as "sit down," "move down the stairs," or "the sun went down." In geography, the Downs refers to rolling chalk hills in southern England, and County Down is a historic county in Northern Ireland.

As a noun, down denotes the soft layer of fine feathers beneath the tougher exterior feathers of many birds, especially waterfowl such as ducks and geese. Down is valued for its warmth-to-weight ratio and is widely used in bedding, jackets, sleeping bags, and quilts. The material is typically collected while birds are not harmed and is subject to animal welfare standards.

As a verb, down can mean to swallow quickly, as in "to down a drink," or to bring someone or something down, meaning to knock down or defeat, as in "the team downed its rival."

As an adjective, down can describe a state of low mood or health—"feeling down"—or being ill, as in "down with the flu." In both senses it conveys a sense of reduced energy or vitality.

The term also appears in personal names and place names, such as County Down in Northern Ireland, and the historical or geographical use of "the Downs" to describe upland chalk landscapes in parts of England.