# die

/ˈdaɪ/ (US) · /dˈaɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/die
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. to stop working

verb · CEFR A2 · Informal

to stop functioning or run out of power.

For teachers: to cease operating due to mechanical failure or exhaustion of a power source.

- My phone is about to die because I forgot my charger at home.
- The engine gave a final shudder and died, leaving us stranded on a deserted stretch of highway in the middle of the night.

### 3. to want something very much

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to want something or want to do something very badly.

For teachers: to experience an intense or nearly unbearable desire for something.

- I am dying for a cold drink after that long walk in the sun.
- After three months of field research in the jungle, the scientists were dying to return to the comforts of a modern city.

Usage: Usually used in the continuous form: 'dying for' or 'dying to'.

### 4. to laugh or be embarrassed

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal · Humorous

to laugh a lot or feel very embarrassed.

For teachers: to be overcome by an extreme emotional reaction, such as amusement or mortification.

- I nearly died when I realized I was wearing two different shoes.
- The audience was absolutely dying with laughter as the comedian recounted his disastrous first date.

### 5. gaming cube

noun · CEFR B2

a small cube with dots on each side used in games of chance.

For teachers: a small, throwable object with multiple marked faces used for generating random numbers in games.

- Roll the die to see how many spaces you can move your piece.
- The player reached for the lone die, knowing that only a six would allow him to win the game on this turn.

Usage: Historically the singular of 'dice', though 'dice' is now commonly used for both singular and plural.

Teaching tip: In modern English, many people use 'dice' for one cube, but 'die' remains the standard singular form in formal writing.

### 6. industrial tool

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a metal tool used to cut or shape materials in a factory.

For teachers: a specialized tool used in manufacturing to cut, shape, or stamp materials like metal or plastic.

- The factory uses a special die to punch holes in the steel sheets.
- The precision-engineered die ensured that every coin struck during the production run had perfectly crisp edges and clear lettering.

## Examples

- Roll the die to see who goes first.
- The board game requires you to roll a single die to determine how many spaces your character moves.
- While modern gaming often utilizes complex polyhedral shapes, the traditional six-sided die remains the standard instrument for resolving movement and combat in most classic tabletop systems.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.