sleep
n. uncountablen. the natural state of rest where your eyes are closed and your body is inactive. It is a time when your brain and body recover from the day.
n. a naturally recurring state of mind and body, characterized by altered consciousness, inhibited sensory activity, and reduced muscle activity.
I need to get some sleep before my early flight tomorrow.
The doctor recommended at least eight hours of sleep to help the patient recover from the flu.
While scientists still debate the precise evolutionary purpose of dreaming, the physiological necessity of deep sleep for cognitive maintenance remains undisputed across the medical community.
Typically uncountable when referring to the general state of rest; can be used with 'a' when modified by an adjective, such as 'a deep sleep'.
I had a very good sleep last nightI slept very well last nightWhile 'a good sleep' is occasionally used, learners often over-rely on the noun form when the verb 'sleep' with an adverb is more natural in English.
- 01
beauty sleep
Originally, sleep taken before midnight, on the belief that early sleep hours conduce to beauty and health; now (chiefly humorous), sleep at any time needed by one to stay beautiful; (countable) an instance of such sleep.
- 02
big sleep
Death.
- 03
cry oneself to sleep
To cry until or to fall asleep.