downing Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. noun United States landscape architect who designed the grounds of the White House and the Capitol Building (1815-1852)
   Andrew Jackson Downing.
   
2. verb drink down entirely
   drink down; bolt down; pour down; pop; belt down; down; kill; toss off.
   
   • He downed three martinis before dinner
   • She killed a bottle of brandy that night
   • They popped a few beer after work
3. verb eat immoderately
   down; go through; devour; consume.
   
   • Some people can down a pound of meat in the course of one meal
4. verb bring down or defeat (an opponent)
   down.
   
5. verb shoot at and force to come down
   down; land; shoot down.
   
   • the enemy landed several of our aircraft
6. verb cause to come or go down
   down; knock down; push down; pull down; cut down.
   
   • The policeman downed the heavily armed suspect
   • The mugger knocked down the old lady after she refused to hand over her wallet
7. verb improve or perfect by pruning or polishing
   down; polish; fine-tune; refine.
   
   • refine one's style of writing

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