Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English
Origin: slæp

sleep

2 noun
     
Related topics: Human
sleep2 S2 W3
1

being asleep

[uncountable]HBH the natural state of resting your mind and body, usually at night [↪ beauty sleep]:
I didn't get much sleep last night.
Sometimes Mike has a hard time getting to sleep (=succeeding in starting to sleep).
I couldn't get back to sleep (=sleep again after waking up) after he'd rung.
drift/nod/go off to sleep (=start sleeping)
I'm sorry, I must have dropped off to sleep for a moment.
in your sleep (=while he is sleeping)
Ed often talks in his sleep.
She died in her sleep later that night.
Her eyes were red through lack of sleep.
a few/a couple of/eight etc hours' sleep
She managed on a few hours' sleep a night.
2

period of sleeping

[singular] a period when you are sleeping
a light/deep sleep
She was woken from a deep sleep by a ring at the door.
You just need a good night's sleep (=a night when you sleep well).
have a sleep British English
Why don't you go and have a sleep?
3

go to sleep

a) to start sleeping:
I went to sleep at 9 o'clock and woke up at 6.
It's nothing, go back to sleep (=sleep again after waking up).
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 blood
4

lose sleep over something

spoken to worry about something:
It's a practice game - I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.
5

put somebody/something to sleep

a) MH to give drugs to a sick animal so that it dies without too much pain - used to avoid saying the word 'kill'
b) informal to make someone unconscious before a medical operation by giving them drugs
6

somebody can do something in their sleep

informal used to say that someone is able to do something very easily, especially because they have done it many times before:
She knew the music so well she could play it in her sleep.
7

sing/rock/lull etc somebody to sleep

to sing to someone, move them gently etc until they start sleeping:
The movement of the waves soon lulled us to sleep.
8

send somebody to sleep

a) to make someone go to sleep:
The combination of warmth and music sent him to sleep.
b) if something sends someone to sleep, it is extremely boring
9

in your eyes

[uncountable] informalHBH a substance that forms in the corners of your eyes while you are sleeping:
She rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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