v. drowned, drown·ing, drowns v.tr. 1. To kill by submerging and suffocating in water or another liquid. 2. To drench thoroughly or cover with or as if with a liquid. 3. To deaden one's awareness of; blot out: people who drowned their troubles in drink. 4. To muffle or mask (a sound) by a louder sound: screams that were drowned out by the passing train. v.intr. Idiom: To die by suffocating in water or another liquid. drown (one's) sorrow/sorrows To try to forget one's troubles by drinking alcohol. [Middle English drounen, probably of Scandinavian origin; see dhreg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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