day
n
1 (Also called)
civil day the period of time, the calendar day, of 24 hours' duration reckoned from one midnight to the next
2 the period of light between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from the night
3 the part of a day occupied with regular activity, esp. work
he took a day off
4 sometimes pl 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 cap a day designated for a special observance, esp. a holiday
Christmas Day
9 ♦
all in a day's work part of one's normal activity; no trouble
10 ♦
at the end of the day in the final reckoning
11 ♦
day of rest the Sabbath; Sunday
12 ♦
end one's days to pass the end of one's life
13 ♦
every dog has his day one's luck will come
14 ♦
in this day and age nowadays
15 ♦
it's early days it's too early to tell how things will turn out
a very late (in a particular situation)
17 ♦
that will be the day
b 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
a the ground surface over a mine
b (as modifier)
the day level
21 ♦
from day to day without thinking of the future
22 ♦
call it a day to stop work or other activity
23 ♦
day after day without respite; relentlessly
24 ♦
day by day gradually or progressively; daily
he weakened day by day
25 ♦
day in, day out every day and all day long
26 ♦
from Day 1 or Day One from the very beginning
27 ♦
one of these days at some future time
28 modifier of, relating to, or occurring in the day the day shift (Related adj)
→
diurnal See also →
days (Old English dæg; related to Old High German tag, Old Norse dagr)
account day
n (on the London Stock Exchange) the day on which deliveries and payments relating to transactions made during the preceding account are made
All Fools' Day
n another name for April Fools' Day (see April fool).
All Saints' Day
n a Christian festival celebrated on Nov. 1 to honour all the saints
All Souls' Day
n (R.C. Church) a day of prayer (Nov. 2) for the dead in purgatory
anniversary day
n (N.Z) a day for celebrating the foundation date of one of the former Provinces
Anzac Day
n 25 April, a public holiday in Australia and New Zealand commemorating the Anzac landing at Gallipoli in 1915
Armistice Day
n the anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I, on Nov. 11, 1918, now kept on Remembrance Sunday
See also →
Remembrance Sunday (U.S. name)
Veterans Day
Ascension Day
n (Christianity) the 40th day after Easter, when the Ascension of Christ into heaven is celebrated
Australia Day
n a public holiday in Australia, commemorating the landing of the British in 1788: observed on the first Monday after January 26
bad hair day
n
Informal
1 a day on which one's hair is untidy and unmanageable
2 a day of mishaps and general irritation
Bastille Day
n (in France) an annual holiday on July 14, commemorating the fall of the Bastille
Ben Day process
n (Printing) a method of adding texture, shading, or detail to line drawings by overlaying a transparent sheet of dots or any other pattern during platemaking
(C20: named after Benjamin Day (1838--1916), American printer)
Boxing Day
n (Brit) the first day (traditionally and strictly, the first weekday) after Christmas, observed as a holiday
(C19: from the custom of giving Christmas boxes to tradesmen and staff on this day)
break of day
n another term for →
dawn →
1
calendar day
n See →
day →
1
Canada Day
n (in Canada) July 1, the anniversary of the day in 1867 when Canada became the first British colony to receive dominion status: a bank holiday, (Former name)
Dominion Day
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
n the official name for the Mormon Church
civil day
n another name for →
calendar day
See →
day →
1
Columbus Day
n Oct. 12, a legal holiday in most states of the U.S.: the date of Columbus' landing in the West Indies (Caribbean) in 1492
Commonwealth Day
n the anniversary of Queen Victoria's birth, May 24, celebrated (now on the second Monday in March) as a holiday in many parts of the Commonwealth, (Former name)
Empire Day
Day
n Sir Robin. born 1923, British radio and television journalist, noted esp. for his political interviews
day bed
n a narrow bed, with a head piece and sometimes a foot piece and back, on which to recline during the day
day blindness
n a nontechnical name for →
hemeralopia
day-clean
n (Caribbean and West African)
informal the time after first dawn when the sun begins to shine; clear daybreak
Day-Glo
n Trademark
a a brand of fluorescent colouring materials, as of paint
b (as modifier)
Day-Glo colours
day hospital
n (Brit) part of a hospital that offers therapeutic services, where patients usually attend all day but go home or to a hospital ward at night
day labourer
n an unskilled worker hired and paid by the day
Day-Lewis , Day Lewis
n C(ecil). 1904--72, British poet, critic, and (under the pen name Nicholas Blake) author of detective stories; poet laureate (1968--72)
day lily
n
1 any widely cultivated Eurasian liliaceous plant of the genus Hemerocallis, having large yellow, orange, or red lily-like flowers, which typically last for only one day and are immediately succeeded by others
2 the flower of any of these plants
day name
n (W African) a name indicating a person's day of birth
day-neutral
adj (of plants) having an ability to mature and bloom that is not affected by day length
day nursery
n (Social welfare) (Brit. and N.Z.) an establishment offering daycare to preschool children, enabling their parents to work full time or have extended relief if child care is a problem, (Also called (N.Z.))
daycare centre
Day of Atonement
n another name for →
Yom Kippur
Day of Judgment
n another name for →
Judgment Day
day of reckoning
n a time when the effects of one's past mistakes or misdeeds catch up with one
day release
n (Brit) a system whereby workers are released for part-time education without loss of pay
day return
n a reduced fare for a journey (by train, etc.) travelling both ways in one day
day room
n a communal living room in a residential institution such as a hospital
day school
n
1 a private school taking day students only
Compare →
boarding school
2 a school giving instruction during the daytime
Compare →
night school
day shift
n
1 a group of workers who work a shift during the daytime in an industry or occupation where a night shift or a back shift is also worked
2 the period worked, (See also)
→
back shift
day-to-day
adj routine; everyday
day-to-day chores
day trip
n a journey made to and from a place within one day
♦
day-tripper n
D-day
n
1 the day, June 6, 1944, on which the Allied invasion of Europe began
2 the day on which any large-scale operation is planned to start
(C20: from D(ay)-day; compare H-hour)
degree day
n a day on which university degrees are conferred
degree-day
n a unit used in estimating fuel requirements in heating buildings. It is equal to a fall of temperature of 1 degree below the mean outside temperature (usually taken as 18°C) for one day
Dominion Day
n the former name for →
Canada Day
Empire Day
n the former name of →
Commonwealth Day
eye of day
n
Poetic the sun
Father's Day
n a day observed as a day in honour of fathers; in Britain the third Sunday in June
field day
n
1 a day spent in some special outdoor activity, such as nature study or sport
2 a day-long competition between amateur radio operators using battery or generator power, the aim being to make the most contacts with other operators around the world
3 (Military) a day devoted to manoeuvres or exercises, esp. before an audience
4 Informal a day or time of exciting or successful activity
the children had a field day with their new toys
a a day or series of days devoted to the demonstration of farm machinery in country centres
b a combined open day and sale on a stud property
first-day cover
n (Philately) a cover, usually an envelope, postmarked on the first day of the issue of its stamps
flag day
n (Brit) a day on which money is collected by a charity and small flags, emblems, or stickers are given to contributors
Flag Day
n June 14, the annual holiday in the U.S. to celebrate the adoption in 1777 of the Stars and Stripes
g'day , gidday
sentence substitute an Austral. and N.Z. informal variant of →
good day
good day
sentence substitute a conventional expression of greeting or farewell used during the day
Groundhog Day
n (in the U.S. and Canada) February 2nd, when, according to tradition, the groundhog emerges from hibernation; if it sees its shadow, it returns to its burrow for six weeks as a sunny day indicates a late spring, while a cloudy day would mean an early spring
Guy Fawkes Day
n the anniversary of the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot, celebrated on Nov. 5 in Britain with fireworks and bonfires
half-day
n a day when one works only in the morning or only in the afternoon
high day
n a day of celebration; festival (esp. in the phrase high days and holidays)
holy day
n a day on which a religious festival is observed
holy day of obligation
n a major feastday of the Roman Catholic Church on which Catholics are bound to attend Mass and refrain from servile work
Holy Innocents' Day
n Dec. 28, a day commemorating the massacre of male children at Bethlehem by Herod's order (Matthew 2:16); Childermas
Inauguration Day
n the day on which the inauguration of a president of the U.S. takes place, Jan. 20
Independence Day
n the official name for the →
Fourth of July
Judgment Day
n the occasion of the Last (or General) Judgment by God at the end of the world, (Also called)
Day of Judgment See →
Last Judgment
Labor Day
n
1 (in the U.S. and Canada) a public holiday in honour of labour, held on the first Monday in September
2 (in Australia) a public holiday observed on different days in different states
Labour Day
n a public holiday in many countries in honour of labour, usually held on May 1
See also →
Labor Day
Lady Day
n March 25, the feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary; one of the four quarter days in England, Wales and Ireland, (Also called)
Annunciation Day
latter-day
adj present-day; modern
Latter-day Saint
n a more formal name for a →
Mormon
long-day
adj (of certain plants) able to mature and flower only if exposed to long periods of daylight (more than 12 hours), each followed by a shorter period of darkness
Compare →
short-day
Lord's Day
n the. the Christian Sabbath; Sunday
May Day
n
a the first day of May, traditionally a celebration of the coming of spring: in some countries now observed as a holiday in honour of workers
b (as modifier)
May-Day celebrations
mean solar day
n the time between two successive passages of the mean sun across the meridian at noon. It equals the earth's rotation period, which is not precisely constant at 24 hours when checked against atomic time
Memorial Day
n a holiday in the United States, May 30th in most states, commemorating the servicemen killed in all American wars
Midsummer's Day , Midsummer Day
n June 24, the feast of St John the Baptist; in England, Ireland, and Wales, one of the four quarter days
See also →
summer solstice
Mother's Day
n
1 (U.S. and Canadian) the second Sunday in May, observed as a day in honour of mothers
muck-up day
n (Austral)
slang the last day of school before the annual examinations, marked by practical jokes and other student pranks
name day
n
1 (R.C. Church) the feast day of a saint whose name one bears
2 another name for →
ticket day
New Year's Day
n January 1, celebrated as a holiday in many countries, (Often (U.S. and Canadian informal) shortened to)
New Years
Oak-apple Day
n (in Britain) May 29, the anniversary of the Restoration (1660), formerly commemorated by the wearing of oak apples or oak leaves, recalling the Boscobel oak in which Charles II hid after the battle of Worcester
officer of the day
n a military officer whose duty is to take charge of the security of the unit or camp for a day, (Also called)
orderly officer
open day
n an occasion on which an institution, such as a school, is open for inspection by the public, (Also called)
at-home (U.S. and Canadian name)
open house
Orangeman's Day
n the 12th of July, celebrated by Protestants in Northern Ireland to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne (1690)
order of the day
n
1 the general directive of a commander in chief or the specific instructions of a commanding officer
2 Informal the prescribed or only thing offered or available
prunes were the order of the day
3 (in Parliament and similar legislatures) any item of public business ordered to be considered on a specific day
Pancake Day
n another name for →
Shrove Tuesday
Poppy Day
n an informal name for →
Remembrance Sunday
present-day
n modifier of the modern day; current
I don't like present-day fashions
quarter day
n any of four days in the year when certain payments become due. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland these are Lady Day, Midsummer's Day, Michaelmas, and Christmas. In Scotland they are Candlemas, Whit Sunday, Lammas, and Martinmas
rainy day
n a future time of need, esp. financial
red-letter day
n a memorably important or happy occasion
(C18: from the red letters used in ecclesiastical calendars to indicate saints' days and feasts)
Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre
n usually abbreviated to , St Bartholomew's Day Massacre the murder of Huguenots in Paris that began on Aug. 24, 1572 on the orders of Charles IX, acting under the influence of his mother Catherine de' Medici
saint's day
n (Christianity) a day in the church calendar commemorating a saint
Saint Swithin's Day
n usually abbreviated to , St Swithin's Day July 15, observed as a Church festival commemorating Saint Swithin. It is popularly supposed that if it rains on this day the rain will persist for the next 40 days
Saint Valentine's Day
n usually abbreviated to , St Valentine's Day Feb. 14, the day on which valentines are exchanged, originally connected with the pagan festival of Lupercalia
Seventh-Day Adventist
n (Protestant theol) a member of that branch of the Adventists which constituted itself as a separate body after the expected Second Coming of Christ failed to be realized in 1844. They are strongly Protestant, believe that Christ's coming is imminent, and observe Saturday instead of Sunday as their Sabbath
short-day
adj (of plants) able to flower only if exposed to short periods of daylight (less than 12 hours), each followed by a long dark period
Compare →
long-day
show day
n (in Australia) a public holiday in a state on the date of its annual agricultural and industrial show
sidereal day
n See →
day →
5
Six Day War
n a war fought in the Middle East in June 1967, lasting six days. In it Israel defeated Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, occupying the Gaza Strip, the Sinai, Jerusalem, the West Bank of the Jordan, and the Golan Heights
solar day
n See →
day →
6
speech day
n (Brit) (in schools) an annual day on which prizes are presented, speeches are made by guest speakers, etc.
Thanksgiving Day
n an annual day of holiday celebrated in thanksgiving to God on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, and on the second Monday of October in Canada, (Often shortened to)
Thanksgiving
three-day event
n See →
eventing
three-day measles
n (Pathol) an informal name for →
rubella
ticket day
n (on the London Stock Exchange) the day on which selling brokers receive from buying brokers the names of investors who have made purchases during the previous account, (Also called)
name day Compare →
account day
Twelfth Day
n
a Jan. 6, the twelfth day after Christmas and the feast of the Epiphany, formerly observed as the final day of the Christmas celebrations
b (as modifier)
Twelfth-Day celebrations
varnishing day
n (at an exhibition of paintings) the day before the opening when artists may varnish or retouch their pictures after they have been hung
V-Day
n a day nominated to celebrate victory, as in V-E Day or V-J Day in World War II
V-E Day
n the day marking the Allied victory in Europe in World War II (May 8, 1945)
Veterans Day
n the U.S. equivalent of →
Armistice Day
Victoria Day
n the Monday preceding May 24: observed in Canada as a national holiday in commemoration of the birthday of Queen Victoria
V-J Day
n the day marking the Allied victory over Japan in World War II (Aug. 15, 1945)
Waitangi Day
n the national day of New Zealand (Feb. 6), commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (1840) by Maori chiefs and a representative of the British Government. The treaty provided the basis for the British annexation of New Zealand
working day , (esp. U.S.) workday
n
1 a day on which work is done, esp. for an agreed or stipulated number of hours in return for a salary or wage
2 the part of the day allocated to work
a seven-hour working day
3 often pl (Commerce) any day of the week except Sunday, public holidays, and, in some cases, Saturday