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.
the light of day; daylight: The owl sleeps by day and feeds by night.
Astronomy.
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.
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.
Also called civil day .a division of time equal to 24 hours but reckoned from one midnight to the next.See also lunar day, sidereal day.
an analogous division of time for a planet other than the earth: the Martian day.
the portion of a day allotted to work: an eight-hour day.
a day on which something occurs: the day we met.
(often initial capital letter) a day assigned to a particular purpose or observance: New Year's Day.
a time considered as propitious or opportune: His day will come.
a day of contest or the contest itself: to win the day.
Often days . a particular time or period: the present day; in days of old.
Usually days . period of life or activity: His days are numbered.
period of existence, power, or influence: in the day of the dinosaurs.
Architecture. light1 (def. 19a).
Idioms for day
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 and night. night (def. 11).
day in, day out, every day without fail; regularly: They endured the noise and dirt of the city day in, day out.Also day in and day out .
Origin of day
before 950; Middle English; Old English dæg; cognate with German Tag
OTHER WORDS FROM day
half-day,nounpre·day,noun
Words nearby day
dawn redwood, Dawson, Dawson Creek, dawsonite, Dax, day, day after day, Dayak, dayan, day and night, daybeacon
Definition for day (2 of 2)
Day
[ dey ]
/ deɪ /
noun
Benjamin Henry, 1810–89, U.S. newspaper publisher.
Clarence (Shep·ard)[shep-erd], /ˈʃɛp ərd/, 1874–1935, U.S. author.
Dorothy, 1897–1980, U.S. Roman Catholic social activist, journalist, and publisher.
Also Daye .Stephen, 1594?–1668, U.S. colonist, born in England: considered the first printer in the Colonies.
Biden, who has held public events less regularly, has been seen wearing a mask on 28, including on all but five days this month.
In 160 words, Trump reveals how little he cares about the pandemic|Philip Bump|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
The rules are defined day by day by people with subjective points of view.
Christian Puglisi Is Closing His Influential Copenhagen Restaurants. COVID Is Only Partly to Blame|Rafael Tonon|September 17, 2020|Eater
When you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero.
Timeline: The 124 times Trump has downplayed the coronavirus threat|Aaron Blake, JM Rieger|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
Earlier in the day, Redfield had said wearing a mask was more effective than a vaccine.
Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine; Biden says Americans shouldn’t trust Trump|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
It’s light enough to wear in the middle of the day here in the muggy South, and dries fast enough that I usually keep it on while I go overboard for a dip.
The Gear That Lets Me Enjoy the Last Days of Summer|Graham Averill|September 15, 2020|Outside Online
He added: “People say he deserves his day in court… Do we have enough time?”
Bill Maher: Hundreds of Millions of Muslims Support Attack on ‘Charlie Hebdo’|Lloyd Grove|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
For many years afterward it was a never-ending topic of conversation, and is more or less talked of even to this day.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“We talked about the science the whole time the other day,” Krauss told The Daily Beast in a phone interview.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Luckily enough I have this dedicated flat that is just along from my house that I go to every day.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I really wanted Trenchmouth to succeed and at the time wished we were as big as Green Day.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
If she only knew what day Jimmy was to be in Washington she could arrange to meet him there.
The Little Colonel's Chum: Mary Ware|Annie Fellows Johnston
Lizzie, indeed, is fond of work; she is busy all day long, and it is evident that her sewing-machine is not allowed to rust.
London's Heart|B. L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon
The march to Ali-Musjid occupied the greater part of the day.
Our Soldiers|W.H.G. Kingston
And then—well, I happen to forget what sort of a day this particular day turned into, about six of the clock.
Library of the World's Best literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 12|Various
Percy, who played tackle on a winning Crimson eleven, and Sam Felton will be well remembered as the fastest punters of their day.
Football Days|William H. Edwards
British Dictionary definitions for day (1 of 2)
day
/ (deɪ) /
noun
Also called: civil daythe period of time, the calendar day, of 24 hours' duration reckoned from one midnight to the next
the period of light between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from the night
(as modifier)the day shift
the part of a day occupied with regular activity, esp workhe took a day off
(sometimes plural)a period or point in timehe was a good singer in his day; in days gone by; any day now
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
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
the period of time taken by a specified planet to make one complete rotation on its axisthe Martian day
(often capital)a day designated for a special observance, esp a holidayChristmas Day
all in a day's workpart of one's normal activity; no trouble
at the end of the dayin the final reckoning
day of restthe Sabbath; Sunday
end one's daysto pass the end of one's life
every dog has his dayone's luck will come
in this day and agenowadays
it's early daysit's too early to tell how things will turn out
late in the day
very late (in a particular situation)
too late
that will be the day
I look forward to that
that is most unlikely to happen
a time of success, recognition, power, etchis day will soon come
a struggle or issue at handthe day is lost
the ground surface over a mine
(as modifier)the day level
from day to daywithout thinking of the future
call it a dayto stop work or other activity
day after daywithout respite; relentlessly
day by daygradually or progressively; dailyhe weakened day by day
day in, day outevery day and all day long
from Day 1orfrom Day Onefrom the very beginning
one of these daysat some future time
(modifier)of, relating to, or occurring in the daythe day shift
See also days
Other words from day
Related adjective: diurnal
Word Origin for day
Old English dæg; related to Old High German tag, Old Norse dagr
British Dictionary definitions for day (2 of 2)
Day
/ (deɪ) /
noun
Sir Robin. 1923–2000, British radio and television journalist, noted esp for his political interviews
term, period, time, light, daylight, sunshine, sunlight, daytime, prime, zenith, generation, age, years, epoch, height, ascendancy, heyday, cycle, bright, mean solar day