- sleep
- 1
/sli:p/ verb past tense and past participle slept
/slept/
1 REST (I) to rest your mind and body by being asleep: I normally sleep on my back. | You're welcome to stay if you don't mind sleeping on the floor. | sleep well/soundly: Did you sleep well? | sleep like a log/top informal (=sleep very well) | sleep late (=sleep until late in the morning): We usually sleep late on Sundays. | not sleep a wink (=not sleep at all): I didn't sleep a wink all night. | sleep the night BrE (=sleep at someone else's house for the night): We talked till late and then Bob ended up sleeping the night.2 sleep rough BrE to sleep outdoors in uncomfortable conditions, especially because you have no money3 sleep on it informal to not make a decision about something important until the next day: Why don't you sleep on it and give me your final reply tomorrow?4 sleep tight spoken used especially to children before they go to bed to say that you hope they sleep well: Good night, sweetheart. Sleep tight!5 NUMBER OF PEOPLE (T) to have enough beds for a particular number of people: sleep two/four/six etc: The villa will sleep four easily.6 let sleeping dogs lie to deliberately avoid mentioning a problem or argument that you had in the past, so that you do not cause any problems: She decided to let sleeping dogs lie and not to ask her son about the missing money.7 BE QUIET AT NIGHT (I) literary if a village, house etc sleeps it is night time and very quiet: While the house slept, he crept downstairs and out of the front door.sleep around phrasal verb (I) informal to be too willing to have sex with a lot of different people sleep in phrasal verb (I) to sleep later than usual in the morning: They like to sleep in on Saturdays. —compare oversleep sleep sth off phrasal verb (T) to sleep until you do not feel ill any more, especially after drinking too much alcohol: sleeping off the effects of last night's party sleep over phrasal verb (I) to sleep at someone's house for a night: If you don't want to drive, you're welcome to sleep over. sleep through phrasal verb1 (transitive sleep through something) to sleep while something is happening and not be woken by it: How did you manage to sleep through that thunderstorm?2 (I) to sleep continuously for a long time: I slept right through till lunchtime.sleep together phrasal verb (I) informal to have sex: I'm sure those two are sleeping together. sleep with sb phrasal verb (T) informal to have sex with someone, especially someone you are not married to: It's common knowledge that he's sleeping with his secretary. 2 noun1 AT NIGHT (U) the natural state of being asleep: I didn't get much sleep last night. | Try and get some sleep before the journey. | get to sleep (=succeed in sleeping): I had terrible trouble getting to sleep last night. | in your sleep (=while you are sleeping): She sometimes talks in her sleep. | send sb to sleep (=make someone sleep): The combination of warmth and music sent him to sleep. | sing/rock sb to sleep (=sing to a baby until it sleeps or gently move it)2 PERIOD OF SLEEPING (singular) a period of sleeping: I usually have a sleep after lunch. | a light/deep sleep: She was woken from a deep sleep by a ring at the door. | a good night's sleep (=a night when you sleep well and after which you feel healthy and active)3 go to sleepa) to start sleeping: I went to sleep at 9 o'clock and woke up at 6.b) informal if a part of your body goes to sleep, you cannot feel it for a short time because it has not been getting enough blood4 don't lose sleep over it spoken used to tell someone not to worry about something5 put sb/sth to sleepa) to give drugs to a sick animal so that it dies without too much painb) informal to make someone unconscious before an operation by giving them drugs6 can do sth in your sleep informal to be able to do something very easily, especially because you have done it many times before7 IN YOUR EYES (U) informal a substance that forms in the corners of your eyes while you are sleeping
Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.
