deathˈblow noun

1. A blow that causes death
2. An action that brings about the end (figurative)

death cap or death cup noun

A very poisonous toadstool (Amanita phalloides) often mistaken for an edible mushroom

death cell noun

A prison cell for condemned prisoners awaiting execution

death certificate noun

A legal certificate on which a doctor states the fact and usu the cause of a person's death

deathˈ-damp noun

A cold sweat preceding death

deathˈ-dealing adjective

Fatal, likely to cause death

death duty noun

(often in pl) duty paid on inheritance of property (now replaced by inheritance tax (see under inherit))

deathˈ-fire noun

A light supposed to presage death

death futures plural noun

The life insurance policies of people who are terminally ill, bought for a lump sum by an investor who receives the proceeds of the policy on the death of the insured

death house noun (US inf)

Death row

death knell noun

1. The ringing of a bell to announce a death
2. Something that announces the end of one's hopes, ambitions, etc (figurative)

deathˈ-marked adjective

Marked for or by death, destined to die

death mask noun

A plaster cast taken from the face after death

deathˈmatch noun (informal)

In computer games, a mode of play in which players deliberately attempt to eliminate one another

death metal noun

A particularly loud and fast style of heavy metal music, usu characterized by a preoccupation with death, the vocabulary and imagery of horror films and the occult

death penalty noun

The legal taking of a person's life as punishment for crime

deathˈ-pracˈtised adjective (Shakespeare)

Threatened with death by malicious arts

death rate noun

The proportion of deaths to the population

death rattle noun

A rattling in the throat that sometimes precedes death

death ray noun

An imaginary ray able to kill

death roll noun (obsolete)

A death toll

death row noun (US)

The part of a prison where prisoners who have been sentenced to death are confined

death'sˈ-head noun

1. The skull of a human skeleton, or a figure of it
2. A memorial ring bearing such a figure

death's-head moth noun

A hawk moth with pale markings on the back of the thorax somewhat like a skull

death slide noun

Another name for a zipwire

deathsˈman noun (Shakespeare)

An executioner

deathˈ-song noun

A song sung before dying

death squad noun

An unofficial terrorist group who murder those whose views or activities they disapprove of, often operating with the tacit or covert support of the government of the country

death star noun

A small thin star-shaped metal plate with sharpened points, used as a missile

deathˈ-stroke noun

A death blow

death throe noun

The dying agony

deathˈ-token noun (Shakespeare)

A sign or token of impending death, a plague-spot

death toll noun

A list of the dead, eg after an accident or a natural disaster

deathˈtrap noun

An unsafe structure, vehicle or place that exposes one to great danger of death

death warrant noun

An order from the authorities for the execution of a criminal

deathˈwatch noun

1. A vigil, a watch kept beside a dying person
2. A deathwatch beetle

deathwatch beetle noun

A beetle that produces a ticking noise, found esp in house timbers (genus Xestobium)

death wish noun (psychology)

A wish, conscious or unconscious, for death for oneself or another

deathˈ-wound noun

A wound that causes death

at death's door

Very near to death

catch one's death (of cold) (informal)

To catch a very bad cold

death on

Fatal to, fond of, good at

do or put to death

1. To kill
2. To cause to be killed

gates or jaws of death

The point of death

in at the death

1. Having caught up with a hunted animal before the dogs have killed it
2. Present at the finish, crux, climax, etc of anything (figurative)

like death warmed up or over (informal)

Very unwell

like grim death

Tenaciously

on one's deathbed

About to die

sign one's own death warrant

To do something that makes one's downfall inevitable

to death

1. (until) dead
2. To a state of exhaustion
3. To a point of overuse

to the death

To the very end