day Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
    twenty-four hours; mean solar day; twenty-four hour period; solar day; 24-hour interval.
    • two days later they left
    • they put on two performances every day
    • there are 30,000 passengers per day
  2. noun some point or period in time
    • it should arrive any day now
    • after that day she never trusted him again
    • those were the days
    • these days it is not unusual
  3. noun a day assigned to a particular purpose or observance
    • Mother's Day
  4. noun the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
    daylight; daytime.
    • the dawn turned night into day
    • it is easier to make the repairs in the daytime
  5. noun the recurring hours when you are not sleeping (especially those when you are working)
    • my day began early this morning
    • it was a busy day on the stock exchange
    • she called it a day and went to bed
  6. noun an era of existence or influence
    • in the day of the dinosaurs
    • in the days of the Roman Empire
    • in the days of sailing ships
    • he was a successful pianist in his day
  7. noun the period of time taken by a particular planet (e.g. Mars) to make a complete rotation on its axis
    • how long is a day on Jupiter?
  8. noun the time for one complete rotation of the earth relative to a particular star, about 4 minutes shorter than a mean solar day
    sidereal day.
  9. noun a period of opportunity
    • he deserves his day in court
    • every dog has his day
  10. noun United States writer best known for his autobiographical works (1874-1935)
    Clarence Day; Clarence Shepard Day Jr..

WordNet

Day noun
Etymology
OE. day, dai,, dei, AS. dæg; akin to OS., D., Dan., & Sw. dag, G, tag, Icel. dagr, Goth. dags; cf. Skr. dah (for dhagh ?) to burn. *69. Cf. Dawn.
Definitions
  1. The time of light, or interval between one night and the next; the time between sunrise and sunset, or from dawn to darkness; hence, the light; sunshine.
  2. The period of the earth's revolution on its axis. -- ordinarily divided into twenty-four hours. It is measured by the interval between two successive transits of a celestial body over the same meridian, and takes a specific name from that of the body. Thus, if this is the sun, the day (the interval between two successive transits of the sun's center over the same meridian) is called a solar day; if it is a star, a sidereal day; if it is the moon, a lunar day. See Civil day, Sidereal day, below.
  3. Those hours, or the daily recurring period, allotted by usage or law for work.
  4. A specified time or period; time, considered with reference to the existence or prominence of a person or thing; age; time.
    A man who was great among the Hellenes of his day. Jowett (Thucyd. )
    If my debtors do not keep their day, . . . I must with patience all the terms attend. Dryden.
  5. (Preceded by the) Some day in particular, as some day of contest, some anniversary, etc.
    The field of Agincourt, Fought on the day of Crispin Crispianus. Shak.
    His name struck fear, his conduct won the day. Roscommon.
    ✍ Day is much used in self-explaining compounds; as, daybreak, daylight, workday, etc.

Webster 1913