down

Pronunciation: /ˈdaʊ̯n/

The English word “down” has 20 meanings listed here.

adverb

From a higher position to a lower one; downwards.
To or towards what is considered the bottom of something, irrespective of whether this is presently physically lower.
At a lower or further place or position along a set path.
To the south (as south is at the bottom of typical maps).
Away from the city (regardless of direction).
At or towards any place that is visualised as 'down' by virtue of local features or local convention, or arbitrarily, irrespective of direction or elevation change.
Forward, straight ahead.
In the direction leading away from the principal terminus, away from milepost zero.
Away from Oxford or Cambridge.
To a subordinate or less prestigious position or rank.
Towards the opponent's side (in ball-sports).
So as to lessen quantity, level or intensity.
So as to reduce size, weight or volume.
From less to greater detail.
From a remoter or higher antiquity.
Into a state of non-operation.
So as to secure or compress something to the floor, ground, or other (usually horizontal) surface.
On paper (or in a durable record).
So as to be cowed into silence.
As a down payment.

Etymology

From Middle English doun, doune (“down”), from Old English dūne (“down”), aphetic form of adūne (“down, downward”), from earlier ofdūne (“down”, literally “off the hill”), from of (“of, off of”) + dūn (“hill, mount, dune, down”). More at Etymology 2 below. For the development from directional phrases to prepositions, compare Old Frisian dene (“down”, adverb, literally “(to the) floor”), Middle…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.